23 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
merce, being largely imported from Van Diemen’s Land inte 
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 4 
to a shilling each. 
A large number of the Tasmanian form of this Wallaby were ) 
formerly 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 Wallabies 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. 
