HABITS OF KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES 39 



those of wallabies proper, and some of them walk and 

 run much like a rat. All carry the body much less upright 

 than do the larger kangaroos ; but it is in the structure of 

 the tail that these animals differ most markedly from the 

 kangaroos. That appendage in the rat-kangaroos is 

 partially prehensile, and they carry bunches of herbage 

 with it to their lairs ; for these animals, and many of the 

 wallabies, have lairs like hares ; but none] of them have 

 burrows, or occupy holes or hiding-places of any kind — all 

 lie in the open. 



The reproduction of kangaroos is the most extra- 

 ordinary peculiarity of the family. For many years it 

 was believed that the young entered the marsupial pouch 

 through the teats of the female. They are, however, born 

 in an embryonic state, and transferred to the nipple by the 

 female herself. When she is not with young the teats are 

 sunk completely in the skin of the abdomen ; but when in 

 use they project in varying degree, according to the stage 

 of development of the young. The newly-born kangaroo 

 or wallaby is so small and undeveloped, that it may easily 

 escape the notice of a careless observer. Even in the great 

 kangaroo it is scarcely an inch in length, and looks, in its 

 first stages, like a malformation of the teat. It is quite 

 undeveloped — a mere worm in appearance — and so firmly 

 affixed to the nipple that it may be correctly described as 

 grown to it. So much force is necessary to detach it that 

 both the young animal and the nipple of the mother 

 bleed freely, and the former dies in a few hours, or, 

 perhaps, in a few minutes. The young kangaroo, called 

 by the colonists a "Joey," is fully developed before it 

 becomes naturally detached from the nipple. At that 

 period it is about the size of a rat, and is very active, 

 jumping from the pouch with great activity. In some 

 species of wallaby, however, the young are placed in, or 

 taken from, the pouch by the mother. There is, usually, 

 with all species, but a single young one at a birth — never, 

 according to my experience, more than two ; and I do not 

 think that any species breed more than once a year. It 

 is extraordinary, therefore, that these animals are so 



