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. Asa 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 (MZ. 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 the ear, and is sharply separated 
