836 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ry their food to their mouths, sitting on their hind legs 

 like the ape or the squirrel. 



The colonists hunt them with greyhounds ; but if 

 these are not well assisted when they first seize them, 

 they fight so desperately, both with their teeth and 

 claws, that the dogs are often dreadfully lacerated. 



The kanguroo feeds chiefly on grass and other ve- 

 getable substances, standing like other quadrupeds on 

 its four feet ; in drinking, it laps the water like a dog. 



It sometimes props itself on the base of the tail, 

 springs forward, and kicks in such a manner with its- 

 hind legs, that it is dangerous to approach it. 



In their native state, these animals are gregarious 



feeding in herds of forty or fifty together, and that 



usually at night, seeming particularly to enjoy them- 



' selves in the mild serenity of moon-light, at which 



time they station sentinels around to give the alarm, 



in case of approaching danger. They have nictating.- 



membranes, which, in the excess of light, they extend 



at pleasure over the ball of the eye. 



The flesh ef the kanguroo is eaten, but it is coarse, 

 and far from being considered as an article of luxury. 



END OF VOLUME FIRST. 



Printed by W, Davison, Alnwick, 



