TOL. LXXXV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS. 537 



The discovery of the kanguroo, an animal of a very large size, related in 

 many important points to the opossum, opened a prospect of something more 

 satisfactory being ascertained respecting the generation of these animals ; and 

 from the time that a colony was established in New South Wales, it became an 

 inquiry to which several persons directed their attention. The late Mr. Hunter 

 had for many years kept American opossums, with the sole view of investigating 

 this subject ; but was never able to induce them to breed, though all means in 

 his power were employed for that purpose. This disappointment did not at all 

 abate his ardour ; but finding that little was to be expected in that way, he ap- 

 plied to Captain Paterson, and Mr. Lang a surgeon, who were going to Port 

 Jackson, having received appointments on that establishment, to give him their 

 assistance. He requested they would procure the female organs of the kanguroo 

 under all the diiFerent circumstances in which they occurred, and send them to 

 England in spirits, that he might be enabled to prosecute this inquiry. The 

 only preparation of this kind which arrived before Mr. Hunter's death, were such 

 as showed the uterus in its unimpregnated state ; and Mr. Hunter's time was so 

 much occupied by his public appointments that he had not sufficient leisure to 

 examine them. 



In the course of the last summer, I have received from Mr. Lang, by the hands 

 of Mr. Considan, and Major Nepean, several preparations of the uterus in differ- 

 ent states, and the young kanguroo at a very early period after leaving the uterus. 

 These, on examination, appear to compose a body of evidence that elucidates 

 several parts of the curious mode of generation of this animal, and to contain the 

 most material anatomical facts that are necessary to direct our future inquiries. 

 The preparations themselves I have deposited in the collection for which they 

 were originally intended ; and am desirous to communicate the facts and obser- 

 vations to this Society, that they may prove useful to those gentlemen whose 

 residence in that country enables them to prosecute and complete this interesting 

 investigation. 



The only general circumstances I have been able to collect respecting the 

 breeding of the kanguroo, from those who have resided in New South Wales, 

 are the following. That they breed at all seasons ; that the female has never 

 been known to have more than a single young one at a time, and is seldom found 

 without one. That the young remains in the false belly, or goes into it occa- 

 sionally, and sucks the mother a long time after it appears capable of procuring 

 its own food ; and yet if the mother is closely pursued, in attending to her own 



which he differs in some particulars ; but candidly confesses himself not satisfied on the subject, be- 

 ing unable to make out the uses of the parts. Tyson says there are"2 ovaria, 2 tubae fallopianae, 2 

 ateri, 2 cornua uteri, 2 vaginae uteri. Bulf. Hist. Natur. torn. 10, p. 302. — Orig. 

 VOL. XVII. 3 Z 



