Hi QJJ A D R U P E D S.- • 



THE KANGAROO. 



Extras from Captain Tench's ^* Account of Botany -Bay.'' 



F the natural hiftory of the kangaroo we are ftill very ignoranr,- 

 We may, however, venture to pronounce this animal a new 

 fpecies of opoflum, the female being furnifned wi'.h a bag, in which the 

 young is coiitained ; and in which the teats are found. Thefe lall are 

 Oiily two in number j a ftrong prefumpiive proof, had we no other evi- 

 dence, rjiat the kangaroo brings forth rarely morq than one at a birth. 

 But this is fettled beyond a doubt, from more than a dozen females 

 leaving been killed, which had invariably but one formed in the pouch, 

 Notwithftanding this, 'the animal may be looked on as prolific, from 

 the early age it begins to breed at; kangaroos with young having been 

 taken of not more than thirty pounds weight j and there is room to 

 believe that, when at their utmoft growth, they weigh not lefs than one 

 hundred and fifty pounds. A male of one hundred and thirty pounds 

 weight has been killed, whofe dimenfions v/ere as follow : Extreme 

 length feven ittt three inches; the tail three feet four inches and 

 a half; the hinder legs three feet two inches ; the fore paws one foot 

 feven inches and a half^ the circumference of the tail at the root one 

 foot five incheSi After this, perhaps, I fhall hardly be credited when 

 I affirm, that the kangaroo, on being brought forth, is not larger than an 

 Englifli moufe. It is, however, in my power to fpeakpofitively on this 

 head, as I have ittn more than one inftance of it. 



In running, this animal confines himfelf entirely to his hinder legs, 

 which are poffefied with an extraordinary mufcular power. Their fpeed 

 is very great, though not in general quite equal to that of a greyhound ; 

 but when the greyhounds are fo fortunate as to feize them, they are inca- 

 pable of retaining their hold, from the amazing ftruggles of the animal. 

 The bound of the kangaroo, when not hard prcfled, has been meafured, 

 and found to exceed twenty feet. 



When young, the kangaroo eafs tender and well-flavoured, tafling like 

 veal ; but the old ones are more tough and ftringy than bull-beef. They 

 are not carnivorous, and fubfiil altogether on particular flowers and grafs. 

 Their blear is mournful, and very different from that of any other ani- 

 mal i it is, however, feldom heard but in the young ones." 



The head, neck, and flioulders are very fmall in proportion to tlie 



bodv^ 



