NATURAL HISTORY. 335 



many writers ; aiid it has excited an uncommoh de- 

 gree of curiosity, which has at length been amply gra- 

 tified ; the animal having been in a measure natural- 

 ized in this countrr. 



The size of the full-grown kanguroo, or kangaroo, 

 is nearly that of the common sheep. Its upper part* 

 are very slender, in comparison with the lower ; but 

 the gradation is almost imperceptible, and adds to the 

 picturesque elegance of the animal. The head is not 

 unlike that of the female deer, anJ the whole counte- 

 nance mild and placid : the mouth is rather small, the 

 eyes large and brilliant; the ears sharp, upright, and 

 moderately large ; the neck is thin, tapering, and 

 finely proportioned ; the fore legs are remarkably short, 

 having five toes, furnished with sharp and crooked 

 claws. The body enlarges gradually from the breast' 

 downward : the hind parts are extremely stout. 



The construction of the feet is very singular, th* 

 centre claw being of great size and strength ; and the 

 whole of the foot resembks that of some large bird ; 

 the under part of it is black and granulated, and it 

 rests on its whole length. 



This elegant animal is of a pale brown colour, the 

 belly and pouch inclining to white. 



The kanguroo sornetimes uses all its four feet ia 

 running ; but its principal progressive motion is by- 

 leaps, which frequently exceed twenty feet at a time; 

 and these are so rapidly repeated, as to leave the 

 swiftest greyhound far behind ; in this act they are 

 assisted by their tails, which are so strong and mus- 

 cular, as to be capable of giving a blow sufficient to 

 break the bones of a man. 



These animals dig burrows in the ground, like the 

 rabbit, with their fore feet ; and with these they car- 



