476 THE ROCK KANGAROO. 
Passing by the Nail-tailed Kangaroos, so called from the strange nail-like appendage 
that is found at the extremity of their tails, and which is concealed by the tuft of long 
black hair which terminates that member, we arrive at the WHALLABEE, or WALLABY, as 
the word is sometimes spelled. 
The genus to which this animal belongs is easily distinguished from the genus 
Macropus, by reason of the muzzle being devoid of hair. This creature is not nearly so 
large as the common or the woolly Kangaroo, being only four feet six inches in total 
length, of which measurement the tail occupies two feet. 
‘The fur of the Whallabee is rather long and coarse in texture, being decidedly harsh 
to the touch. The colour is rather curious, being a darkish- brown washed with a warm 
rusty hue, and obscurely pencilled with whitish-grey. The whole of the under portions of 
the body are of a yellowish tint, and the feet and the wrists are quite black. The tail 
is also rather singular in its colouring, by which it is divided into three nearly equal 
portions. The dorsal third of the tail is of the same colour as the back, but the 
remaining two-thirds change abruptly from brown to black. 
The animal is an inhabitant of New South Wales, and is of tolerably frequent occur- 
rence in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson. It is sometimes known by the name of the 
Aroé Kangaroo. The singular word Ualabatus has no particular meaning. being only the 
harsh Latinized form of the native name Whallabee. The genus embraces a considerable 
number of species, some twelve or thirteen being acknowledged to belong to it. 
ONE of the most singular of this singular group of animals is the Rock KANGAROO, 
which has derived its popular name from its rock-loving habits. 
In the tree Kangaroo we have already seen a remarkable instance of unexpected 
powers, and the Rock Kangaroo will shortly be seen to be possessed of equal, if not of 
superior bodily prowess. The agility with which this animal traverses the dangerous 
precipices among which it lives is so very great, that when the creature is engaged in 
skipping about the cragey rocks that shroud its dw elline-place from too vigilant eyes, 
it bears so close a resemblance to a monkey in its movements, that it has, on many 
occasions, been imistaken for that active animal. Not only does it resemble the 
quadrumana in its marvellously easy manner of ascending rocks, but it also emulates 
those creatures in the art of tree-climbing, being able to ascend a tree-trunk with ease, 
provided that it be a little divergent from the perpendicular, 
By means of its great scansorial capabilities, the Rock Kangaroo is enabled to baffle the 
efforts of its worst foes, the dingo and the native black man. In vain does the voracious 
and hungry dingo set off in chase of the Rock Kangaroo, for as soon as the creature has 
gained the shelter of its congenial rocks, it bounds from point to point with an agility 
which the dingo can by no means emulate, and very soon places itself in safety, leaving 
its baffled pursuer to vent its disappointment in cries of rage. 
The only method in which the dingo is likely to catch one of these animals, is by 
creeping unsuspectedly into its den, and seizing it before it can make its escape. Both the 
dingo and the Rock Kangaroo are in the habit of making their resting-place in some rocky 
crevice, and it might happen that the Kangaroo might choose too low a domicile, and 
perchance make choice of the very same crevice that a dingo was about to appropriate to 
himself, In order, however, to escape such dangers, the habitation of the Rock Kangaroo 
is generally furnished with two or more outlets, so that its chances of escape are propor- 
tionably multiphed. 
It is by means of this precaution that the creature baffles the best efforts of the natives. 
Should a native be fortunate enough to spear a Rock Kangaroo, but not fortunate enough 
*s kill it on the spot, the animal dives at once into its rocky abode, and there awaits its 
death; for the rocks are too hard to be destroyed by the tools of the aborigines, and if 
the sable hunter has recourse to fire, and tries to smoke out his intended prey, the smoke 
rolls harmlessly through the rocky burrow and makes its exit through the various entries, 
without causing very much inconvenience to the concealed inmate. 
It is found that when the Rock Kangaroo comes from its cavernous home, it is in the 
habit of taking the same route along the rocks, so that by continually passing over the 
