ON THE 



from rock to rock over bushes more than seven 

 feet in height; and if finally thrown on its back, 

 using its tail and all its sharp claws at once in 

 its defence, and with an actvity and force, that 

 never fail to painfully annoy its enemy, and some- 

 times fairly to drive him from the field. 



The Kangaroo, however, is naturally a very 

 inoffensive animal, feeding 1 entirely on grass, and 

 the smaller vegetable substances. It is killed 

 by the Natives, for the sake of its flesh, which is 

 stated to be tender and well flavoured, and of its 

 skin, which serves as their only clothing ; many 

 of them being without even this very simple re- 

 source. 



Having lately had more than one opportunity 

 of seeing three Kangaroos at their feeding time, 

 I am enabled to speak with more confidence on 

 their form and actions. Upon the first approach 

 to these animals, they were thrown into the awk- 

 ward position of resting on all their legs to take 

 their food ; but upon my urging them with the 

 point of my umbrella, they immediately assuu, rl 

 the erect attitude, by resting upon the whole 

 length of their hind legs, and jumping in the man- 

 ner, and with all the facility of the most active 

 bird ; thus confirming an observation made in my 

 last lecture, viz. that in many instances, nature has 

 given to animals, very opposite in their kind, cer- 

 tain external resemblances, without interfering 

 with that general unity of character, by which 



