VII BRUYN AND SIR JOSEPH BANKS 16333 
but is crested in JZ irma. They are for the most part found on 
the Australian continent, but some species are found in the 
islands to the north which belong to the Australian region. 
Thus JL bruniz, which is of interest as the first Kangaroo seen 
by a European, is a native of the Aru islands. A specimen of 
this animal, which was then living in. the garden of the Dutch 
governor of Batavia, was described by Bruyn in the year 1711. 
M. rufus, the largest member of the group, is remarkable for the 
red secretion which adorns the neck of the male. It is caused 
by particles which have the appearance and colour of carmine. 
M. giganteus is not, as its specific name might imply, the “ giant” 
of the race; its dimensions are given as 5 feet, while IZ rufus 
is said to attain a length of 5 feet 5 inches, exclusive (in both 
cases) of the tail. 
The account which Sir Joseph Banks gives’ in his diary 
of the Kangaroo is interesting, since he was one of the first 
naturalists to see that creature. In July 1770 it was reported 
to him that an “animal as large as a greyhound, of a mouse 
colour, and very swift” had been seen by his people. <A little 
later he was surprised to observe that the animal “went only 
upon two legs, making vast bounds just as the jerboa does.” 
The second lieutenant killed one of these Kangaroos, of which 
Sir Joseph Banks wrote that “to compare it to any European 
animal would be impossible, as it has not the least resemblance 
to any one I have seen. Its fore-limbs are extremely short and 
of no use to it in walking; its hind, again, as disproportionately 
long; with these it hops seven or eight feet at a time, in the 
Same manner as the jerboa, to which animal indeed it bears much 
resemblance, except in size, this being in weight 38 Ibs., and the 
Jerboa no larger than a common rat.” The beast was killed and 
eaten, and proved excellent meat. Sir Joseph Banks’ observations 
upon the leaping of the Kangaroo are of interest, because it is 
often asserted that the tail is largely made use of as a third foot 
or as a support. Mr. Aflalo declares in the most positive way 
that after repeatedly examining the tracks upon soft sand’ imme- 
diately after the animal had passed, not the very faintest trace 
of the impression of the tail could be discovered. The leaps of 
a big Kangaroo seem to be somewhat greater than is recorded 
1 
* Journal of the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., K.B., P.R.S., edited by Sir 
Joseph Hooker, London, 1896. 
