14 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
families, the third containing only a single genus differing very 
markedly from all the others and forming a kind of connecting- 
link between the present Family and the following one of the 
Phalangers. 
THE KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES. GENUS MACROPUS. 
Macropius, Shaw, Nat. Miscell., vol.1., text to pl. xxxiii. (1790). 
The sub-family JZacropodine, of which this genus is the first 
representative, includes forms of variable, although generally 
large, size, in which the claws of the fore feet are sub-equal and 
not disproportionately large, and the ears are generally long and 
pointed. In the teeth, the fourth upper premolar has its axis 
placed in the line of the other cheek-teeth, or but slightly 
twisted outwardly ; the molars are transversely ridged, and 
increase in size from the front towards the back of the series ; 
the canine is generally minute or absent ; and the innermost 
upper incisor is but slightly longer than the other two. 
The members of the large genus Macropus, which vary in size 
from that of a rabbit to that of a man, havea naked nose, well- 
developed ears, and the fur on the nape of the neck almost 
invariably directed downwards. ‘The hind limbs are very 
much longer and stronger than the front pair, with their 
central claws markedly exceeding the terminal pad on the 
sole of the foot in length. The thick and tapering tail 
is evenly haired and not bushy; and the teats are four in 
number. 
All the species of the genus are terrestrial and saltatorial in 
their habits ; their range including Australia and the eastern 
Austro-Malayan islands. They may be divided into three groups, 
the first of wnich is represented by the large Kangaroos proper, 
while the second includes the considerably smaller animals 
which may be termed Larger Wallabies ; the last group con- 
sisting of the Smaller Wallabies. The species of these several 
