1414 THE POUCHED MAMMALS, OR MARSUPIALS 



wallabies also eat roots. Although, when feeding, kangaroos occasionally move 

 about in an awkward manner on four feet, their habitual position is the upright one, 

 when they are supported by the hind-limbs aided by the tail; and the 

 whole structure of their skeleton is modified to suit this position. Thus, 

 as shown in the figure of the skeleton on p. 1409, the bones of the lower leg (tibia 

 and fibula) are immensely elongated, while the thigh bone (femur) is comparatively 

 short, and the narrow pelvis set very obliquely to the axis of the backbone. Conse- 

 quently, when the animal is resting in the usual position, with the whole of the foot 

 applied to the ground, the knee joint forms the summit of. a solid support from 

 which the whole body is suspended, as it were on pivots. The kangaroo can, how- 

 ever, raise itself so as to be supported only by the tips of the toes and the tail, and 

 when in this position is enabled to take a wide survey of the country, and thus to 

 obtain early warning of approaching danger. "When running," says the Old Bush- 

 man, "it springs from the ground in an erect position, propelled by its powerful 

 hind-legs and balanced by its tail, holding its short fore-arms well into the chest, 

 after the nianner of a professional runner. Thus it bounds lightly and easily along, 

 clearing any obstacles, such as fallen trees, and even low fences, in its stride. I 

 never fairly measured one of these strides or springs, but I am certain, when hard 

 pressed, an ' old man,' or ' flying doe,' will clear nearly ten yards at a spring. The 

 long tail materially assists them in running, and its measured thumps may be heard 

 on the ground long before the kangaroo itself appears in sight in the thick forest. 

 It is a curious fact, that a wounded kangaroo very often breaks the hind-leg in 

 struggling; and I once knew an 'old man' snap the bone just above the hock, as 

 short as a carrot, in taking a spring." "In general habits," the writer continues, 

 " kangaroos much resemble sheep and deer. Timid and shy, their senses of sight, 

 hearing, and smell are most acute. L,ike the hare, they appear to be unable to see 

 an object directly in front of them when running; at least I have often stood still 

 and shot one down as it came running up to me in the open forest. They are very 

 gregarious, and are always to be met with in smaller or larger droves. I have often 

 seen as many as one hundred and fifty in a drove, and our general ' mobs ' used to 

 average fifty or sixty. After the rutting season, the ' old men ' will often draw 

 away from the 'mobs,' and retire by themselves to the thickest scrub. Each drove 

 frequents a certain district, and has its own particular camping and feeding grounds. 

 The ' mobs ' do not appear to mix, and when the shooter once obtains a knowledge 

 of the country, he has no difficulty in planting himself for a shot. Their camping 

 grounds are generally on some open timbered rise, and they have well-trodden runs 

 from one ground to another. They feed early in the morning and at twilight, and 

 I think also much at night. The kangaroo lies up by day, during the hot summer 

 weather, in damp, thickly-scrubbed gullies; in the winter, on dry, sandy rises. 

 Here, unless disturbed, they will remain quiet for hours; and it is a pretty sight to 

 watch a ' mob ' camped up, some of them playing with each other, some quietly nib- 

 bling the young shrubs and grass, or basking in the sun half asleep on their sides. 

 About Christmas the young ones appear to leave their mothers' sides, and congre- 

 gate in ' mobs ' by themselves; I have seen as many as fifty running together, and 

 very pretty they looked." When on the move, kangaroos invariably follow a 



