KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES, 41 
which is most marked on the head and rump; under-parts 
yellow, orange, or rufous, brightest posteriorly; ears very 
short, olive-grey behind, margined in front with black ; fre- 
quently an indistinct stripe on the back of the neck, and some- 
times an indistinct yellowish hip-stripe. Legs greyish-brown ; 
feet brown; tail very short, only about two-and-a-half times 
the length of the head, basally orange above, terminally grey- 
ish-white beneath, elsewhere greyish-brown. Length of head 
and body about 26 inches; of tail 14 inches. 
Distribution—South-eastern Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, 
and islands of Bass Straits. 
Habits—This is the common small Wallaby of Victoria and 
Tasmania, where it is extremely abundant. According to 
Gould’s account, it is essentially gregarious, hundreds of in. 
dividuals generally inhabiting the same locality. It frequents 
gullies and the denser and moister portions of the forest, 
especially such as are covered with tall rank grass, through 
_ which it makes a number of well-beaten tracks. From such 
coverts this Wallaby but seldom emerges, never even approach- 
ing the outskirts of the forests, except at night. Consequently, 
in spite of its abundance, it is but seldom seen by the ordinary 
observer. It is easily taken by snares, placed in the form of a 
noose in its runs, thousands of these Wallabies being annually 
captured in this manner for the sake of their skins. It is likewise 
highly esteemed in Tasmania on account of its flesh, which 
is one of the best-flavoured among the Wallabies. 
XXIII SHORT-TAILED WALLABY. MACROPUS BRACHYURUS. 
Kangarus brachyurus, Quoy and Gaimard, Voyage Astrolabe, 
Zool., vol.i., p. 114 (1830). 
_ Macropus brachyurus, Lesson, Hist. Nat. Mamm., vol. v., p. 
378(1836); Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 60 (1888). 
