242 



POUCHED MAMMALS. 



from New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland ; Parry's wallaby (M. parryi), 

 from mountain districts in Queensland and the north of New South Wales ; and 

 the agile wallaby (M. agilis) of New Guinea, Queensland, and part of South 

 Australia, distinguished from all the others by the uniform sandy colour of the 

 short fur of the back, and the presence of a distinct white stripe on the hips. 



The " padamelon " wallaby of the colonists (M. theditis), which is 

 very common in New South Wales and Victoria, and measures 26 

 inches from the muzzle to the root of the tail, is one of the best known representa- 

 tives of the group of small wallabies, several of which are not larger than a rabbit. 

 All the species are lightly built, with perfectly naked muzzles, and the outer incisor 

 tooth smaller than in the last group. Their hinfl-f eet are also relatively shorter ; 



Small Wallabies. 



THE PADAMELON WALLABY ( nat. size). 



and their jumping powers, therefore, probably proportionately less. Thjs group 

 has a wider distribution than either of the others, the Aru Island wallaby 

 (M. brunii) the earliest known member of the family occurring in the islands 

 from which it takes its name. Other well-known species are the rufous-bellied 

 wallaby (M. billardieri), from South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania ; and the 

 small short-tailed wallaby (M. brachyurus), from Western Australia; the latter 

 being remarkable for the shortness of its tail, and the small size of its ears. 



As already mentioned, all the kangaroos are exclusively vegetable 

 feeders, the larger kinds browsing solely on grass and other herbage, 

 while many of the smaller wallabies also eat roots. Although, when feeding, 

 kangaroos occasionally move about in an awkward manner on four feet, their 

 habitual position is the upright one, when they are supported by the hind-limbs 

 aided by the tail ; and the whole structure of their skeleton is modified to suit 



Habits. 



