388 THE GREAT KANGUROO. 



serve that it used all its four feet in running, and 

 did not support itself on the hinder feet only*. 

 The hind legs, which are perfectly bare and callous 

 beneath, are very strong; and when sitting, the 

 animal rests on the whole of their length, its 

 rump being elevated several inches from the ground. 

 The claws are only three in number, the middle one 

 exceeding the others greatly in length and strength: 

 but the inner one is of a peculiar structure ; at first 

 sight appearing single, though on farther inspection 

 it is seen to be really divided down the middle, and 

 even through the ball of the toe belonging to it, ap- 

 pearing as if separated by a sharp instrument. 



From the make of the animal, there can be little 

 doubt that its principal progressive motion must 

 be (notwithstanding the remark of M. Labillardiere) 

 by leaps : in these exertions it has been seen to ex- 

 ceed twenty feet at a time, and this so often repeated 

 as almost to elude the swiftness of the fleetest Grey- 

 hound ; besides which, it will frequently bound over 

 obstacles of nine feet or more in height, with the 

 greatest ease. 



The Kanguroos have also vast strength in their 

 tail, which they occasionally use as a weapon of de- 

 fence ; for with it they can strike with such asto- 

 nishing force as even to break the leg of a man. 

 The colonists for some time considered this as the 

 animals' chief defence ; but having of late hunted 

 them with Greyhounds, it was soon discovered that 

 they use both their claws and teeth. On the 



* .^abillardiere, i. 177, 



