V. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALIA. 41 



fourth is very large and encased in a strong pointed claw — it is 

 the principal part of the foot j the fifth toe also is in a sheath but 

 is much smaller. The foot has thus the appearance of having 

 one large and two small toes. The fore feet have each the usual 

 live toes of nearly uniform size. 



Kangaroos are also distinguished by the end of the nose being 

 hairy, and the eyes having eyelashes, as they are the only marsupials 

 that move about and feed in the daytime ; the head being long 

 and narrow ; and the pouch opening forward. The usual number 

 of teeth is 20 in the upper jaw and 14 in the lower arranged 

 thus :— incisors ^ ; canines ^, or y'.t > pi'emolars ^.t > BQolars |^;f ^ 

 Total II or ff.*" 



The front or incisor teeth are powerful, but the others are 

 small. They are vegetable feeders, eating grass and leaves. In 

 size they vary from the great black Kangaroo, 6 feet high, to 

 the Rat Kangaroo, which can go into one's pocket. 



The Kangaroo was discovered by Captain Cook in 1770, and 

 first described in Dr. Hawkesbury's account of the Voyage. The 

 earliest name given to it was Yerboa gigantea, which was con- 

 sidered inappropriate, and the name Macropus, given by Dr. Shaw 

 in 1790, is now used. Macropus is from the Greek, makros, 

 large and j^ous, a foot. Kangaroo was supposed to be the native 

 name. 



The specimens of Kangaroos in the Museum are exhibited in 

 the "Australian Hall" in cases Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The follow- 

 ing are some of the principal species. 



Macropus major; the great Grey Kangaroo found all over 

 N.S,W., South and West Australia, and Tasmania. In a 

 full grown specimen the skull is 7 or 8 inches long, and 

 the animal itself often 6 feet high. 



M. ocydromus; a form closely resembling II. major fouud in 

 West Australia. 



M. erubescens ; a rare species from South Australia. 



M. parryi ; a pretty silver-grey kangaroo found in the central 

 parts of N.S.W., and known as Parry's Kangaroo. 



*For explanation of formula see in Chapter XIII. Osteology. 



