510 GREAT KANGUROO. 



to Botany Bay, viz. eight feet from the tip of the 

 nose to that of the tail : length of the tail three 

 feet one inch : of the head eleven inches : of the 

 fore legs two feet : of the hind three feet seven 

 inches : circumference of the fore part, of the ani- 

 mal near the legs, three feet nine inches : of the 

 lower part near the legs four feet five inches: 

 round the thickest end of the tail one foot one 

 inch. The weight of the largest specimens is 

 said to have been about 150 pounds; but it is 

 imagined that this animal attains a still larger 

 size. 



Though the general position of the Kanguroo, 

 when at rest, is standing on its hind feet, as re- 

 presented in the figure, yet it frequently places its 

 fore feet on the ground also, and thus feeds in 

 the manner of other quadrupeds. It drinks by 

 lapping. In its natural state it is extremely 

 timid, and springs from the sight of mankind by 

 vast bounds of many feet in height, and to a sur- 

 prising distance. When in a state of captivity 

 it has sometimes a way of springing forwards and 

 kicking with its hind feet in a very forcible and 

 violent manner ; during which action it rests or 

 props itself on the base of the tail. In a natural 

 state it sometimes uses its tail as a weapon of de- 

 fence, and will give such severe blows with it to 

 dogs as to oblige them to desist from their at- 

 tack. The female Kanguroo has two mamma or 

 breasts situated in the abdominal pouch, and on 

 each are seated two teats; yet, so far as has hi- 

 therto been observed, the animal produces but 



