518 HISrOKY OF 



oltice of hands. It is often seen by travellers as they pass along 

 the deserts, crossing their way, and jumping six or eight feet at 

 every bound and going so swiftly, that scarce any other quadru- 

 ped is able to overtake them. They are a lively, harmless race 

 of animals, living entirely upon vegetables, and burrowing like 

 rabbits in the ground. Mr Pennant tells us of two that vi'ere 

 lately brought to London, that burrowed almost through the 

 bi'ick wall of the room where they were kept ; they came out of 

 their hole at night for food, and, when caught were much fatter 

 and sleeker than when confined to their burrows. A variety of 

 this animal is found also in Siberia and Circassia, and is, most 

 probably, common enough over all Asia. They are more expert 

 diggers than even the rabbit itself j and when pursued for a long 

 time, if they ciinnot escape by their swiftness, they try to make 

 a hole instantly in the ground, in vi'hich they often bury them- 

 selves deep enough to find security before their pursuers come 

 up. Their burrows, in some places, are so thick, as to be dan- 

 gerous to travellers, the horses perpetually falling in them. It 

 is a provident little animal, and lays up for the winter. It cuts 

 grass in heaps of a foot square, which, when dried, it carries 

 into its burrow, therewith to serve it for food, or to keep its 

 young warm during the rigours of the winter. 



But of all animals of this kind, that which was first discover- 

 ed and described by Mr Banks, is the most extraordinary. He 

 calls it the kangaroo ; and though from its general outline, and 

 the most striking peculiarities of its figure, it greatly resembles 

 tlie jerboa, yet it entirely differs, if we consider its size, or those 

 n)inute distinctions which direct the makers of systems in assort- 

 ing the general ranks of nature. • 



* The Gigantic Kangaroo {of Cook.) — Buflfon, whose only errors were those 

 of genius, clearly perceived that every continent, in its animal productions, 

 presented the appearance of an especial creation ; but he gave a universa- 

 lity to this proposition, of which it is not altogether susceptible. It is 

 nevertheless true, even at the present day, within certain limits. A great 

 number of the Asiatic animals are not foiuid in Africa, and vice versa. The 

 Lemurs seem to exist only in Madagascar. America is peopled with a host 

 of Mammalia, exclusively peculiar to itself, and there are many more in 

 Europe not to be found in the other quarters of the globe. The discovery 

 of Australasia has given an additional supjiort to this opinion of Buft'on. 

 The species of animals there discovered, have not only no affinity with those 

 of the other continents, but in fa<'t, belong for the most part to genera alto- 

 grt'.icr dili'oreut. Such are those Miuuimdia which the natives of New 



