284 t THE GREATER KANGAROO. 



knowledge either of the manner in which the young animal 

 is deposited in the mother's abdominal pouch, how it becomes 

 attached to the nipple inside, or of the nature and circum- 

 stances of its subsequent development. In this recess, and in 

 all probability without the exercise of any volition on its own 

 part,* the foetus is attached to the nipple of its mother by 

 means of a scarcely formed aperture, which collapses closely 

 round it, and represents the position, as it already executes 

 the functions, of the future mouth. Here it continues to 

 cling and imbibe nourishment, like a plant engrafted on a 

 strange stem ; till the gradual development of its members, and 

 the more complete organization of its parts, allow it to drop from 

 the nipple, and become an independent being. At this instant it 

 is precisely on a par, in point of organic development, with the 

 young of ordinary mammals when first brought forth 3 that is 

 to say, though a separate being, and possessed of independent 

 volition, it is, nevertheless, incapable of providing for its own 

 wants, but depends for education and nourishment upon the 

 care and assiduity of its parent. Accordingly, it continues, for 

 a considerable time, to occupy the abdominal pouch of its 

 mother, and to be supported by her milk j occasionally coming 

 out as it acquires size and strength ; and it is only when its 

 increasing growth renders that retreat too small for its reception, 

 that it finally abandons it. 



The flesh of the kangaroo is eaten and highly esteemed by 

 the natives and colonists. Mr. George Bennett observed that 

 many of the women of the Bugong Mountain, in the Tumah 

 country, wore the front teeth of the kangaroo attached to their 

 hair, and highly prized them as ornaments 5 and the men use 

 the incisor teeth to carve devices on their shields. Kangaroo 

 hides are imported into Britain, and the boots made of them, 

 being remarkable for their neatness and elasticity, are much 

 worn by our men of fashion. 



* Mr. Martin says, " At the moment of its birth it is placed 6y the mother 

 in her pouch ; conducted to the nipple, to which it firmly adheres by the 

 mouth, and continues attached until developed to a considerable size." 

 A Natural History of Quadrupeds (1840), vol.i. p. 176. 



