322 THE MARSUPIALS, OR POUCHED ANIMALS 



it grows and completes its development, and about the end of 

 the period begins to look out of the pouch. 



On looking at a Great Kangaroo (Macwpus giganteus) the 

 peculiarities that strike the eye are its small fore-limbs, its very 

 large and long hind ones, and the great thick tail ; the smallness 

 of the head, which has rather long ears, and a long dusky brown 

 muzzle, the length of the body, and the beautiful thick, shortish, 

 grey-brown fur. When moving rapidly, the Kangaroo depends 

 upon the powerful hind-limbs alone, bounding along with the 

 greatest ease, and at a high speed. If the short fore-limbs are 

 watched, they will be seen to be able to do a great deal in the 

 way of holding, clasping, and turning things over. The five fingers 

 or digits have a very free movement, and the forearm can also 

 turn and twist about freely. 



Of the Brush-tailed Rock Kangaroos Mr. Waterhouse writes : 

 " Whilst the kangaroos of the plain have the forepart of the body 

 slender and light, great strength in the hinder parts, combined 

 with a long leg and foot, adapting them to fleetness, the tail powerful, 

 and assisting in the support of the long body, we perceive certain 

 modifications in the form and structure of these parts in the Rock 

 Kangaroos which adapt them to their particular habits. The body, 

 more compact in form, requires but little assistance from the 

 tail for its support, the leverage being less ; and the feet are, 

 though powerful, comparatively short, and remarkably rough 

 beneath, being thickly covered over this part with hard tubercles, 

 which no doubt prevent the foot from slipping. The nails of the 

 two large toes are shorter than usual, and, indeed, in some of the 

 species, scarcely project beyond the fleshy pads with which the 

 toes are terminated, and on the upper surface of which the nails 

 are placed; A long and slender foot, with long nails, as in the 

 typical kangaroos, it is obvious, would be ill-adapted to an animal 

 which has to leap to and balance itself upon the small ledges of 

 the rocks. The tail is large, but not thickened at the root, as in 

 the plain kangaroos ; and, unlike the tail in those animals, it 

 is clothed with long hairs, which, gradually increasing in length 

 from the base of the tail, become very long and bushy at the opposite 

 extremity. It serves to steady the animal in its leaps, and to 

 balance the body when perched in situations which require it, 

 but is of little assistance in supporting the weight of the trunk. 



