﻿2« ALLEN'S naturalist's LIBRARY. 



:nerce, being largely imported from Van Diemen's Land into 

 England for the manufacture of boots and shoes, besides being 

 extensively used for the same purpose in the colony. It is 

 universally dispersed over Van Diemen's Land, whose dense 

 and humid forests afford it a retreat so secure as to preclude 

 all chance of its extermination for centuries to come, although 

 many thousands are killed annually. Advertisements may 

 frequently be seen in Hobart Town newspapers stating that 

 three thousand skins are immediately wanted, and they are 

 quickly supplied by the settlers, servants, and shepherds at the 

 out-stations. They are either captured by dogs or by snares 

 set in their runs ; the skins are generally taken off on the spot, 

 and are afterwards stretched on the ground to dry; they are then 

 sold for fourpence or sixpence each, to persons who visit the 

 stock-stations of the interior for the purpose of collecting them, 

 and who retail them again in Hobart Town, or Launceston, to 

 the advertiser or others, for colonial consumption or for ex- 

 portation." The average number of skins of this and allied 

 species of Wallabies now imported into London is estimated 

 at from 20,000 to 30,000 ; their value ranging from fourpence 

 to a shilling each. 



A large number of the Tasmanian form of this Wallaby were 

 Ibrrnerly kept at Knowsley, the seat of the Earls of Derby. Upon 

 visiting the spot where they were enclosed, Waterhouse writes 

 that : " I could almost have fancied myself in Australia ; the 

 heads of several of these Kangaroos suddenly made their appear- 

 ance from amongst a quantity of heath, and upon my approach 

 the animals sprang forth, and with a few vigorous bounds were 

 soon out of reach." Eventually these W^allabies were turned 

 loose in the park, but of their final fate history is silent. When 

 at rest, this Wallaby curves its tail between the hind legs under 

 the body ; the hind limbs being thrust straight forward, and 

 the front pair resting on the ground. 



