THE TRUE KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES 



and Victoria, and is represented in Tasmania by a smaller variety known as Bennett's 

 wallaby. Other well-known species are the black-tailed wallaby (M. ualabatus} , 

 from New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland; Parry's wallaby (M.parryi), 

 from mountain districts in Queensland and the north of New South Wales; and the 

 agile wallaby (M. agilis] of New Guinea, Queensland, and part of South Aus- 

 tralia, distinguished from all the others by the uniform sandy color of the short fur 

 of the back, and the presence of a distinct white stripe on the hips. 



The " pademelon " wallaby of the colonists {M. theditis}, which is 

 very common in New South Wales and Victoria, and measures twenty- 

 six inches from the muzzle to the root of the tail, is one of the best- 

 known representatives of the group of small wallabies, several of which are not 



Small Walla- 

 bies 



THE PADEMEI.ON WALLABY. 



( One-eighth natural size. ) 



larger than a rabbit. All the species are lightly built, with perfectly-naked muz- 

 zles, and the outer incisor tooth smaller than in the last group. Their hind-feet are 

 relatively shorter, and their jumping powers, therefore, probably proportionately 

 less. This group has a wider distribution than either of the others, the Aru island 

 wallaby (M. brunii) the earliest known member of the family occurring in the 

 islands from which it takes its name. Other well-known species are the rufous- 

 bellied wallaby (M. billardieri), from South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania; and 

 the small short-tailed wallaby {M. brachyurus} , from Western Australia; the latter 

 being remarkable for the shortness of its tail, and the small size of its ears. 



As already mentioned, all the kangaroos are exclusively vegetable feeders, the 

 larger kinds browsing solely on grass and other herbage, while many of the smaller 



