188 



POUCHED MAMMALS 



jumping machine. The tail not only assists the animal in 

 leaping, but it also serves as a balancing pole, and keeps its 



MT. 



.«■ ■ ■ % 



BRUSH-TAILED ROCK WALLABY (Petrogale penicillata). 

 Length, head and body, 28 inches; tail, 24 inches. 



owner from losing his proper position when in mid-air. It 

 is reasonably certain that a Kangaroo without a tail would 

 when leaping frequently overbalance and turn somersaults. 

 Kangaroos were once very abundant in Australia, but the 



