346 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMRLVLIA. 



"The kangaroos usually feed at night, and in tlic evenings and mornings, 

 but they are exceedingly sharp-sighted at daytime." 



The M. Hlbiii<, white kangaroo, M. riijicollis, red-neck kangaroo, 31. 

 r/ifo-f/risens, rusty -gray kangaroo, 31. Walulxtlns, Walabee kangaroo, 31. 

 IriiKi, 31. virii)ic<i/'(s, hlack-footed kangaroo, 31. JJiUnnUerit, red-bellied 

 kangaroo, 31. dorsa/is, 31. Eugenii, Eugene Island kangaroo, 31. Derbi- 

 attits, Lord Derby's kangaroo, and 31. brac/iiufits, short-tailed kangaroo, do 

 not diillr from the preceding species cxce[>t in size and color. 



31. JJru/u'i. — Filandcr Kangaroo. Tiie following is Le Brun's account 

 of tlie filandcr : — 



"I3ein"' at (lie country house of our "•eneral (at I)ata\ia), I saw a certain 

 animal c:i\\cd Ji/'/ndrr, wliich was somewiiat remarkable. Tlicrc were many 

 individuals, with full freedom, running with some rabbits, which had tlieir 

 holes under a little hillock encircled by a balustrade. This animal has tiie 

 hinder legs nuich longer than the front, and is nearly of the same size, and 

 has nearly the same fiu-, as a large rabbit. The head approaches in form 

 to that of a fox, and tiie tail is pointed. lUit tlie most extraordinary circum- 

 stance is, that it had a bag-like opening in tlie belly, into wliicii the young 

 enter, even \\lien tlicy have attained a considerable size. They arc often 

 seen with the bead and neck thrust out from this bag; when, however, the 

 mother is running tiiey are not visiljle, but keep to the bottom of the pouch, 

 since she leaps much.'' 



31. Ea.sridliis. — The banded kangaroo is a beautiful little species, about 

 the size of a rahbit, which it resembles in the general color and texture tjf 

 the fur. According to ^I. Peron the banded kangaroo is found at Dirck 

 Ilartog's Island, and on one or two neighboring islands in .Shark's Bay, 

 on the west coast of Australia. It is said to inhabit the impenetrable low 

 thickets, formed of a species of iiiunom, which arc found in those islands; 

 from these bushes they cut away t!ie lower branches and spines so as to form 

 galleries communicating one with anotiier, and where they take refuge in 

 time of danger. Tiie females bring forth but one young at a time. 



Althougli abundant in the islands of Shark's Bay, Peron states that none 

 were to be found on the main land. These little kangaroos, like all those 

 feeble animals whicii have neither the power of attack nor of defence, are, 

 like the hares, extremely timid. The slightest unusual noise caused them to 

 take flight to tiie thick brushwood in which their galleries are constructed, 

 and where it is impossible to pursue them; hence, although very common, 

 they are diffii'ult to procure. 



The ticsh of these animals is said to resemble that of the rabbit, but has a 

 slight aromatic flavor, arising jirobably from the nature of the plants on 

 which they feed, nearly all of which are fragrant. 



