KANGAROO HARRE.—Lagorchestes Leporoides, 
the tail of the true Kangaroos, which, when they are moving slowly and leisurely along, 
are accustomed to support the body on the tail, and to swing the hinder legs forward like 
a man swinging himself upon erutches. 
CONSIDERABLY larger than the preceding animal, the KaANGARoo HARE may at once be 
distinguished from it by the hair-covered muzzle which is a distinguishing mark of the 
genus Lagorchestes. 
The colour of the coat is very like that of the common hare, but the fur is short, 
rather hard, and slightly curled. The upper parts of the body are a mixture of black and 
cream, the sides are tinged with a yellow hue, and the under parts are a greyish-white. 
The skin is white. There is much variety in the tintine of different specimens of this 
animal, some being of a much redder hue than others. The fore-legs are black, and the 
fore-feet are variegated with black and white, the hinder feet being of a brownish-white. 
A buff-coloured ring surrounds the eye, and the back of the neck is washed with yellow. 
It sometimes happens that a light rust-colour takes the place of the buff The tail is of 
a very pale brownish-erey. 
The Kangaroo Hare inhabits the Liverpool Plains and the greater part of the interior 
of Australia, to which region it seems to be limited, seldom, if ever, being seen nearer the 
sea. It has many hare-like traits of character, such as squatting closely to the ground in 
a “form,” and then sitting, in hopes of eluding notice, until it is roused to active exertion 
by actual contact. When it once takes to flight, it runs with amazing celerity, and 
doubles before the hounds in admirable style, not unfrequently making good its escape in 
the opposite direction by a well-executed “ double.” 
Mr. Gould relates a curious incident that occurred to him while he was engaged in the 
pursuit of a Kangaroo Hare, attended by two dogs. The hounds had pressed the animal 
closely, when it doubled before them, retraced its course at full speed, making directly for 
Mr. Gould, who was following up his dogs. The animal came within twenty yards 
without seeing him, and then, instead of turning aside, leaped clear over his head. 
The tota: length of this animal is about two feet, the tail occupying about thirteen 
inches. The Kangaroo Hare is not able to dig after the manner of many of the 
preceding animals. 
