432 HISTORY OF 



animal becomes old ; but is very slow in its 

 growth, and for some time resembles a strong 

 down. In some parts, however, the mouth for 

 example, it begins earlier to be hairy. 



This animal's teeth are so singular, that it 

 is impossible to decide, from them, to what 

 class the Kangaroo belongs. It has four broad 

 cutting teeth in the upper jaw ; but only two 

 long lanceolated teeth in the lower, which 

 point forwards, and are so placed as to oppose 

 those of the upper. It has also four grinding 

 teeth in each jaw, remote from the others ; 

 and possesses the very singular power of sepa- 

 rating the lower inoisores, and bringing them 

 again close to each other. 



Thp proportions in some of the parts of this 

 animal bear no analogy to what is common in 

 most others. 



The fore legs are so very short, as scarcely 

 to reach the nose, and are indeed useless for 

 walking. The hind legs are almost as long as 

 the body, and the thighs are very thick. On 

 the forefeet are five toes, with long conic and 

 strong black claws ; but on the hind feet are 

 only three, the middle toe being very long and 

 thick, like that of an ostrich, and extending 

 far beyond the two others, which are small, 

 and placed very distinct from it. The inner 

 toe of the hind feet is singularly distinguished, 

 by having two small claws ; and the bottom 

 and hind parts of the feet, on which the animal 

 often rests, are black, naked, and tubercu- 



