1416 



THE POUCHED MAMMALS, OR MARSUPIALS 



Australia. The common brush-tailed rock wallaby (P. penicillata) , from the coast 

 districts of the eastern side of the continent, is more soberly colored; the general 

 tint of the coarse hair being dull brown, tending to rufous on the hind-quarters. In 

 the male, the length of the head and body reaches twenty-eight and one-talf inches, 

 and that of the tail, exclusive of the hair at the tip twenty-four inches. The re- 

 maining four species are all smaller; the northwestern short-eared rock wallaby (P. 

 brachyotis] being distinguished by the characteristic from which it takes its name. 

 The whole of the rock wallabies are confined to continental Australia, and, as their 

 name implies, frequent rocky districts, whereas the true wallabies are plain-dwelling 



'YELLOW-FOOTED ROCK WALLABY. 

 (One-tenth natural size.) 



animals. Their tails lack the stiffness of those of the latter, and appear to be used 

 rather in balancing the body when leaping, than as a third support. The brush- 

 tailed rock wallaby, according to Gould, collects in large flocks, and forms regular 

 well-beaten tracks on the mountain sides. 



Three species of wallaby differ from all other Mammals, with the 

 ?U w & \ single exception of the lion, in having the extreme tip of the tail fur- 



nished with a horny spur or nail, the use of which is at present un- 

 known. They are further distinguished by the hairy muzzle, by the length and 

 narrowness of the fourth toe of the hind-foot, and by the length of the tapering tail, 



