

SKELETON OF THE GIANT KANGAROO. 



an<l the upper lip is cleft. The dentition consists of six incisors in the upper jaw, but only two 



th ■ canines are always deficient in the lower jaw, and very small in the upper, 



where they are also sometimes wanting or concealed by the gums, so that there is always a eon- 



en the incisors and the molars, which are five in number on each side, and 

 - uadrangular form. The anterior feet are furnished with five toes, each of which 

 i> arm d with a claw; the hind-feet, on the contrary, only possess four toes, the inner one or great 

 ■ li Gcient. ( >f these the two outer ar ■ the largest, and are terminated by strong, hoof- 

 -, while the inner ones are united together as far as the root of the nails. The stomach 

 fa complex structure, being divided by constrictions into several compartments, and Trofessor 

 ! a sorl of rumination to take place in sonic species. The kangaroos are almost 

 ifined to Australia and Van Diemen's hand, but species are found in the adjacent 

 •i in New Guinea. They are entirely herbivorous, and live for the most part in 

 but t »me species are found in rocky places. They are timid creatures, but 

 nd themselves with violent strokes of their hind-feet, which, from their great 

 ■id tie- strength of their nails, constitute formidable weapons. Unlike the generality of 

 herl - animals, however, they do not usually collect into flocks, although they may some- 



considerable numbers together. In feeding they rest upon the fore-feet, and 

 i th , th" young, which frequently retreat to the abdominal pouch long after they 



• able to graze like their parents, may often be. seen protruding their heads, and cropping the 

 at tie- same time with their mother; they also sometimes run on all fours when pursued 

 Hieir ordinary mode of progression, however, consists in long leaps, effected by the 



