24 A HISTORY OF 



But of aT\ animals of this kind, that which was first discovered ana 

 described by Mr. Banks, is the most extraordinary. He calls it the 

 kangaroo ; and though from its general outline, and the most striking 

 peculiarities of its figure, it greatly resembles the gerbua, yet it entirely 

 differs, if we consider its size, or those minute distinctions which di 

 rect the makers of systems in assorting the general ranks of nature. 



The largest of the gerbua kind which are to be found in the an- 

 cient continent, do not exceed the size of a rabbit. The kangaroo ot 

 New-Holland, where it is only to be found, is often known to weigh 

 above sixty pounds, and must consequently be as large as a sheep. 

 Although tne skin of that which was stuffed and brought home by Mr. 

 Banks, was not much above the size of a hare, yet it was greatly su- 

 perior to any of the gerbua kind that have been hitherto known, and 

 very different in many particulars. The snout of the gerbua, as has 

 been said, is short and round, that of the discovered animal long and 

 slender ; the teeth also entirely differ ; for as the gerbua has but two 

 cutting teeth in each jaw, making four in all, this animal, besides its 

 cutting tseui, has four canine teeth also ; but what makes a more 

 striking peculiarity is the formation of its lower jaw, which, as the in- 

 genious discoverer supposes, is divided into two parts, which opened 

 and shut like a pair of scissors, and cut grass, probably this animal's 

 principal food. The head, neck, and shoulders are very small in pro- 

 portion to the other parts of the body ; the tail is nearly as long as 

 the body, thick near the rump, and tapering towards the end ; the skin 

 is covered with a short fur, excepting the head and ears, which bear 

 a slight resemblance to those of the hare. We are not told, however, 

 from the formation of its stomach, to what class of quadrupeds it be- 

 longs ; from its eating grass, which it has been seen to do, one would 

 be apt to rank it among the ruminating animals ; but from the canine 

 teeth which it is found to have, we may on the other hand suppose it 

 to bear some relation to the carnivorous. Upon the whole, however, 

 it can be classed with none more properly, than with animals of the 

 gerbua kind, as its hind legs are so much longer than the fore ; it 

 moves also precisely in the same manner, taking great bounds of ten 

 or twelve feet at a time, and thus sometimes escaping even the fleetest 

 greyhound with which Mr. Banks pursued it. One of them that was 

 killed, proved to be good food ; but a second, which weighed eighty- 

 four pounds, and was not yet come to its full growth, was found t, 3 

 much inferior. 



With this last described and last discovered animal, I shall conclude 

 e history of quadrupeds, which of all parts of natural knowledge 

 2ms to have been described the most accurately. As these, from 

 heir figure, as well as their sagacity, bear the nearest resemblance to 

 nan, and from their uses or enmities are the most respectable parts of 

 inferior creation, so it was his interest, and his pleasure, to maKe 

 mself acquainted with their history. It is probable, therefore, that 

 lime, which enlarges the sphere of our knowledge in other parts oi 

 arning, can add but very little to this. The addition of a new quad- 

 ruped to the catalogue already known, is of no small consequence, and 

 happens but seldom ; for the number of all is so few, that wherever a 

 new one is found, it becomes an object worthy our best attention. It 



