TREE-KANGAROOS. 247 



elbow, appears to be very similar in its habits. In the north of the continent, and 

 on some of the small adjacent islands, the genus is represented by the spectacled 

 hare-wallabjr {L. coTispicillattbs), distinguished by its broader and heavier muzzle, 

 shorter ears, the rufous tinge round the eyes; and the presence of two light bands 

 on the flanks. 



Midler's kangaroo (Dorcopsis muelZeri) is one of a group of 

 Dorca Kangaroos. . & 1 



three Papuan species connecting the true kangaroos with the under- 

 mentioned tree-kangaroos. They are medium-sized animals, the length of the 

 head and body in Midler's kangaroo being about four inches greater than in the 

 brush-tailed rock-wallaby; while in D. luctuosa it is about as much less. These 

 kangaroos differ from the forms hitherto noticed in that the hair on the nape of 

 the neck is either completely or partially directed forwards : while the dispro- 

 portion between the fore and hind-limbs is very much less marked. The large 

 and broad muzzle is devoid of hairs, the ears are small, the tail has an almost 

 naked tip, and the claws of the hind-feet are not concealed by hair. The teeth 

 are distinguished by the great length, from front to back, of the permanent 

 premolar in each jaw, which has a development similar to that which obtains in 

 the potoroos. There is a well-developed upper tusk: ami the molar teeth have 

 low, rounded crowns, in which there is scarcely any trace of a longitudinal bridge 

 connecting the two transverse ridges. Moreover, instead of converging at their 

 extremities, the two series of cheek-teeth run nearly, or quite parallel. Midler's 

 kangaroo has short, close, and glossy fur, of a general uniform chocolate-brown : 

 but with a white stripe on the front of the hips, and the fore-arms and feet 

 whitish. Externally this animal presents a remarkable resemblance to the Aru 

 Island Wallaby (Macropus ln-n alt). 



In the dense tropical forests of New Guinea and the north of 

 Tree-Kangaroos. 



Queensland are found tree-kangaroos ; and it is evident that these are 



specially modified types which have taken to this mode of life, and are in no 

 way connected witli the ancestral forms of the famil}'. The tree-kangaroos are 

 easily recognised by the general proportions of the two pairs of limbs to the body 

 being normal : the length of the front pair being only slightly less than that of the 

 hinder. The broad muzzle is only partially naked ; and the hair of the nape, and 

 in one species that of the back also, is directed forwards. In the hind feet the 

 claws of the united second and third toes are nearly as large as those of the others : 

 the latter being curved. The tail is very long, and thickly furred. In the teeth, 

 the permanent premolar is less elongated from front to back than in the last 

 genus. Of the four well-defined representatives of the genus, the figured black 

 tree-kangaroo of New Guinea (Dendrolai/ns ursinus) is characterised by its general 

 black colour and whitish face ; the length of the head and body of the female being 

 20$ inches, and that of the tail 23 inches. On the other hand, the brown tree- 

 kangaroo (D. inustvs) of New Guinea, and the Queensland tree-kangaroo (D. 

 Iv/mholtzi), have the back greyish, and the face (and in the Queensland species the 

 paws) black. Finally, Doria's tree-kangaroo (D. dorianus), of south-eastern New 

 Guinea, differs from all the others in having the fur of the back directed forwards. 

 Comparatively little is known of any of the species in their native haunts : 

 although it appears that they spend most of their time in the trees. Dr. 



