﻿KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES. 25 



The species of this group, which closely resemble one another 

 both in size and form, exhibit a more brilliant type of coloration 

 than the sombre-hued Kangaroos ; this difference being es- 

 pecially noticeable in the face. As indicated by the relatively 

 large size of their hind feet, their leaping powers are consider- 

 ably greater than those of the smaller Wallabies. As a rule, the 

 palate of the skull is less completely ossified than in the Kan- 

 garoos, and the outermost upper incisor tooth is always fur- 

 nished with a single well-defined external notch, near or at the 

 centre of the crown. The molar teeth differ from those of the 

 Kangaroos in having an external longitudinal bridge connect- 

 ing the anterior ledge with the first transverse ridge; while the 

 median bridge which usually joins the same ledge to the first 

 transverse ridge in the former is small or wanting. 



Characters. — The following are the distinctive external charac- 

 ters of the Black-tailed or Common Scrub-Wallaby : Size 

 medium ; form rather stout ; fur long, thick, and rather coarse; 

 general colour dark rufous grey, the rufous predominating 

 behind ; crown of head, base of ear, outside of elbow, chin, 

 chest, and under-parts pale rufous or yellow, but the extent of 

 the light-coloured area variable ; face-markings indistinct ; ears 

 short, and coloured like the crown of the head ; a dark mark 

 behind the elbow ; feet brown, becoming black on the toes ; 

 tail black. Length of head and body about 33 inches ; of tail 

 about 26 inches. 



Distribution. — Coast regions of New South Wales and Vic- 

 toria. 



Variety. — The variety known as the Queensland Scrub- Wal- 

 laby {M. apicalis)^ from North-eastern Queensland, differs by 

 its shorter and coarser fur, and more sharply-defined mark- 

 ings. The brown mark on the side of the face is continued 

 through the eye nearly to tiie ear, and is sharply separated 



