192 NATURAL HISTORY. 



evident ; for the small fore legs and curious paws are on or very close to the ground, whilst the back 

 part of the body is raised up by the long hind legs., and, as it were, balanced by the great tail. 

 These hind legs seem to do nearly all the running, or rather jumping, both being used together; 

 and the tail is of use in supporting the long body when the animal suddenly raises itself up straight, 

 and squats on its hind quarters. The small front legs then appear quite stunted, and the ears stick 

 up, and the small head is held straight. But in slow walking, the fore feet are placed on the ground, 

 and the animal rests on them whilst it brings the long hind 

 quarters forward and outside them. Evidently the senses of 

 hearing and sight are very acute ; but they are used to warn the 

 animal of danger, rather than to urge it to attack, for it is a 

 feeder on herbs, leaves, and grass, and often may be seen reclining 

 and moving its jaws, as if it were chewing the cud after a fashion. 



When moving with great velocity, the Kangaroo depends 

 upon the hind limbs alone, bounding along with 

 great ease, over ten, fifteen, or more feet at a jump. 

 Its body is then carried almost horizontally, and 

 the tail is stuck out as if to balance it. 



If the short fore limbs are examined, they will 

 be noticed to be able to do a great deal in the way 

 of holding, clasping, and turning things about, and 

 they are used in patting the little ones, and in 

 embracing and cleaning them. The five digits, or 

 fingers, have a very free movement, and the fore 

 arm can twist and turn like that of the higher 

 animals ; that is to say, it is capable of pronation 

 and supination. The first digit, or thumb, has two 

 joints (phalanges), and the other four have three ; 

 and the five curved claws (the third and fourth 

 being large) are useful weapons of offence. But 

 they and the fingers are often used for very different 

 purposes, and they have, in the female, to open the 

 curious pouch for the young ones, and to place 

 them there. There is an evident relation between 

 the arrangement of the bones of the wrist and this 

 nece s sary 

 office or func- 

 tion. The 

 marsuj)ium, 



or pouch, is SKELETON OF THE GREAT KANGAROO. 



a kind of 



inbending of the skin of the lower part of the belly, and is moist and naked inside. In it, in the 

 females, are the nipples of the mammary glands, and to these the very young Kangaroos* hang on 

 for a long time, before they see the outer world. They are put in there bj r the mother, when they are 

 just born, and when very small and not perfectly formed. They grow there, and after a while, leave 

 the nipple when they think fit. As this pouch, with its contents, would drag upon the mother, it is 

 kept from doing so, more or less, by two bones which are found amongst the muscles of the lower 

 part of the body, and which are attached to the front or pubic bones of the pelvis. They are called 

 marsupial bones. They exist also in the males, but they have no open pouch, for it is, as it were, 

 turned outwards, and contains part of the reproductive organs. 



The head is long, and is remarkable for the long nose, and large full eyes, with eyelashes, for the 

 Kangaroo is not nocturnal in its habits, like most of the Marsupials. The upper lip is split, the end 

 of the nose or muffle is naked or hairy according to the kind, and the brain-case is small. The nostrils 



* See Footnote (J) on previous page. 



