164 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



THE TREE KANGAROOS 



FROM the Rock Wallabies the transition is easy to the Tree Kangaroos (Den- 

 drolagus), of which there are a few kinds inhabiting Australia and New Guinea. 

 In these animals the fore- and hind-limbs are proportioned as in ordinary animals, 

 and the tail is not thickened at the base ; yet they sit upright and jump on 

 their hind-feet, and are unmistakable Kangaroos, in spite of these climbing and 

 perching habits. They spend most of their time in trees, feeding on the leaves 

 as they climb and jump among the boughs. They are moderate-sized animals 

 for Kangaroos, not being bigger than an ordinary Dog, and are seldom seen in 

 confinement, though our Zoological Gardens have exhibited two of the species. 



THE RAT KANGAROOS 



THE Rat Kangaroos (Aepyprymnus, Bettongia, Potorous) are small creatures, only 

 about as big as Rabbits, with pointed ratty-looking heads, short ears, and 

 thin tails ; their form is also rather Rat-like, the hind-limbs being shorter than 

 in the larger Kangaroos. There are several kinds, found in Australia and Tas- 

 mania. They are very different in habits from the large Kangaroos, being more 

 like some rodents. They have but little speed, and are solitary and nocturnal, 

 taking refuge in holes when disturbed, and making concealed nests of grass in 

 cavities scratched out under a bush. Their tails are prehensile, though never 

 used in climbing, as these are ground animals, but employed for bringing home 

 the grass for the nest, which is grasped in a bundle by the tail. In addition 

 to herbage, they live on roots, which they scratch up with their long fore-claws. 



THE MUSK KANGAROO 



(Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) 



THIS curious little beast is the smallest of the Kangaroos being only as big as 

 a Rat, and resembling this animal in its naked scaly tail. Its most remarkable 

 peculiarity, however, is the fact that, unlike other Kangaroos, it has a great toe 

 on the hind-foot ; this is nailless, and set far up, not far from the heel, but is 

 opposable, and thus this animal forms a link between the Kangaroos and the 

 Phalangers. It is found in Queensland, where it lives in the forests, hiding by 

 day in a nest lined with leaves, and feeding on roots, berries, and also a 

 remarkable diet for a Kangaroo insects and worms. It has two young at a 

 birth. Though it seems not to be rare, it has never been brought to England. 



