CHCEROPUS ECAUDATUS. 165 



and very long, slender snout, which resembled the 

 narrow neck of a wide bottle; but in the living 

 animal the absence of a tail was still more remark- 

 able. The feet, and especially the fore-legs, were 

 also singularly formed, the latter resembling those of 

 a pig ; and the marsupial opening was downwards, 

 and not upwards, as in the Kangaroo and others of 

 that class of animals. This quadruped was disco- 

 vered by the natives on the ground ; but on being 

 chased it took refuge in a hollow tree, from which 

 they took it alive, all of them declaring that they had 

 never before seen an animal of the kind. This was 

 where the party had commenced the journey up the 

 left bank of the Murray, immediately after crossing 

 that river."* 



The specimen was presented to the Museum at 

 Sydney. 



THE KANGAROOS. 

 MACROPODID^. 



These animals are remarkable for the flexibility 

 and lightness of the anterior parts of the body, the 

 smallness of the anterior members, and the great size 

 of the posterior extremities, and of the tail. In their 

 ordinary position the fore parts are elevated and slight- 

 ly inclined forwards, and they rest upon the hinder 



* Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for 

 March 1838. 



