THE KANGAKOO. 



141 



fur of a fine gray color, warmed with a sliglit reddish tinge in the adult 

 animal, and fading to a whitish gray in the young. The claws are 

 considerably curved and black, and the ears are tufted with long white 

 hairs. In size it equals a small bull-terrier dog, being, when adult, 

 rather more than two feet in length, and about ten inches in height 

 when standing. The circumference of the body is about eighteen 

 inches, including the fur. 



On account of the tree-climbing habits of the Koala, it is sometimes 

 called the Australian Monkey as well as the Australian Bear. 



The animals which come next under consideration are truly worthy 

 of the title of Macropidse, or long-footed, as their hinder feet are most 

 remarkable for their comparative length, and in almost every instance 

 are many times longer than the fore-feet. This structure adapts them 

 admirably for leaping, an exercise in which the Kangaroos, as these 

 creatures are familiarly termed, are pre-eminently excellent. 



Among the largest of the Macropidse is the celebrated Kangaroo, 

 an animal which is found spread tolerably widely over its native land. 



The Kangaroo [Macropus major). 

 This species has also been called by the name of giganteus, on ac- 

 count of its very great size, which, however, is sometimes exceeded by 

 that of the Woolly Kangaroo. The average dimensions of an adult male 

 are generally as follows: The total length of the animal is about seven 



