476 THE ROCK KANGAROO. 





Passing by the Nail-tailed Kangaroos, so called from the strange nail-like appendage 

 that is found at the extremity of their tails, and which is concealed by the tuft of long 

 black hair which terminates that member, we arrive at the WHALLABEE, or WALLABY, 

 as the word is sometimes spelled. 



The genus to which this animal belongs is easily distinguished from the genus 

 Macropus, by reason of the muzzle being devoid of hair. This creature is not nearly 

 so large as the common or the woolly Kangaroo, being only four feet six inches in 

 total length, of which measurement the tail occupies two feet. 



The fur of the Whallabee is rather long and coarse in texture, being decidedly harsh 

 to the touch. The color is rather curious, being a darkish-brown washed with a 

 warm rusty hue, and obscurely penciled with whitish-gray. The whole of the under 

 portions of the body are of a yellowish tint, and the feet and the wrists are quite black. 

 The tail is also rather singular in its coloring, by which it is divided into three nearly 

 equal portions. The dorsal third of the tail is of the same color as the back, but the 

 remaining two-thirds change abruptly from brown to black. 



The animal is an inhabitant of New South Wales, and is of tolerably frequent occur- 

 rence in the neighborhood of Port Jackson. It is sometimes known by the name of 

 the Aroe Kangaroo. The singular word Ualabatus has no particular meaning, being 

 only the harsh Latinized form of the native name Whallabee. The genus embraces a 

 considerable number of species, some twelve or thirteen being acknowledged to belong 

 to it. 



ONE of the most singular of this singular group of animals is the ROCK KANGAROO 

 which has derived its popular name from its rock-loving habits. 



In the tree Kangaroo we have already seen a remarkable instance of unexpected 

 powers, and the Rock Kangaroo will shortly be seen to be possessed of equal, if not of 

 superior bodily prowess. The agility with which this animal traverses the dangerous 

 precipices among which it lives is so very great, that when the creature is engaged in 

 skipping about the craggy rocks that shroud its dwelling-place from too vigilant eyes, 

 it bears so close a resemblance to a monkey in its movements, that it has, on many 

 occasions, been mistaken for that active animal. Not only does it resemble the 

 quadrumana in its marvellously easy manner of ascending rocks, but it also emulates 

 those creatures in the art of tree-climbing, being able to ascend a tree-trunk with ease, 

 provided that it be a little divergent from the perpendicular. 



By means of its great scansorial capabilities, the Rock Kangaroo is enabled to baffle 

 the efforts of its worst foes, the dingo and the native black man. In vain does the vora- 

 cious and hungry dingo set off in chase of the Rock Kangaroo, for as soon as the creature 

 has gained the shelter of its congenial rocks, it bounds from point to point with an agility 

 which the dingo can by no means emulate, and very soon places itself in safety, leaving 

 its baffled pursuer to vent its disappointment in cries of rage. 



The only method in which the dingo is likely to catch one of these animals, is by 

 creeping unsuspectedly into its den, and seizing it before it can make its escape. Both 

 the dingo and the Rock Kangaroo are in the habit of making their resting-place in 

 some rocky crevice, and it might happen that the Kangaroo might choose too low a 

 domicile, and perchance make choice of the very same crevice that a dingo was about to 

 appropriate to himself. In order, however, to escape such dangers, the habitation of the 

 Rock Kangaroo is generally furnished with two or more outlets, so that its chances of 

 escape are proportionably multiplied. 



It is by means of this precaution that the creature baffles the best efforts of the natives. 

 Should a native be fortunate enough to spear a Rock Kangaroo, but not fortunate 

 enough to kill it on the spot, the animal dives at once into its rocky abode, and there 

 awaits its death ; for the rocks are too hard to be destroyed by the tools of the aborigines, 

 and if the sable hunter has recourse to fire, and tries to smoke out his intended prey, the 

 smoke rolls harmlessly through the rocky burrow and makes its exit through the various 

 entries, without causing very much inconvenience to the concealed inmate. 



It is found that when the Rock Kangaroo comes from its cavernous home, it is in the 

 habit of taking the same route along the rocks, so that by continually passing over the 



