MACROPUS GIOANTEUS. 197 



and a very large Kangaroo will keep off, in a favour- 

 able situation, one or more dogs. 



" Kangaroos, although, from the circumstance of 

 their food being abundant in spots, as on recently 

 burnt land, they may be seen in flocks, are not gre- 

 garious ; their food brings them to one spot, but you 

 never see two together, properly speaking ; and on 

 no occasion have I ever seen or known them in flocks, 

 owning a leader, and proceeding en masse, &c. &c. 



" They lodge during the heat of the day amongst 

 high ferns, such as Pteris esculenta, high grass, and 

 in underwood, commonly here called scrubs, that is, 

 dense patches of Melaleuca, Septospermum, &c." 



Mr. Gould informs me, the Kangaroo will take 

 readily to the water and can swim well ; and it fre- 

 quently happens that, when hunted, it will catch one 

 of the dogs up in its arms and will make off with 

 it to the nearest water, in which it will plunge the 

 dog until it be drowned. 



The Great Kangaroo, as early as the year 1800, 

 had bred in this country, several specimens having 

 at that time been kept for some years in Richmond 

 Park, since then, some at least, of our Menageries 

 have never been without this species. 



The Menagerie of the Zoological Society has at 

 different times contained no less than five species of 

 Kangaroo, viz : Macropus giganteus, M. Parry i* 

 M. Bennettii, M. Derbianus, (a specimen of which, 

 also lived in the Menagerie of the Earl of Derby,) 

 and M. penicillatus. 



