SKELETON OF THE KANGAROO. 



205 



SKELETON OF THE KANGAROO. 



Australia possesses an indigenous race of herbivorous 

 mammals, created to enjoy existence on its grassy plains. 

 But the climate of this fifth continent, as, from its extent, 

 it has been termed, is subject to droughts of unusual du- 

 ration ; and the parched up grass, ignited by the electric 

 bolt or other cause, often raises a conflagration of fearful 

 extent, and leaves a correspondingly wide-spread black- 

 ened desert. To the antelope, and other ruminants of 



Fig. 44. 



SKELETON OP THE KANGAROO {Blaci'opus elcgans). 



tropical or warmer latitudes, swiftness of limb has been 

 given, which enables them to migrate to river valleys, 

 where the vegetation is preserved from the influence of 

 the dry season. Australia, however, is peculiar for its 

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