KANGAROO.—JERBOA. 205 
and fifty pounds, is the largest native animal 
either in New South Wales or in Van 
Diemen’s Land. It feeds on vegetables, 
chiefly grass, and burrows in the ground ; 
but comes abroad in troops of thirty or forty, 
upon which occasion, one of the party per- 
forms the duty of sentinel, after the manner 
of the Marmots. At present, wild Kanga- 
roos are often seen feeding among the Cows 
of the English settlers. The Kangaroo 
moves by leaping, which it can do to the 
length of twenty feet, clearing obstacles of 
nine feet in height; and is thus enabled to 
elude the pursuit of even the swiftest Grey- 
hound. The fore-legs are seldom more than 
nine inches long, while the hinder are about 
three feet and a-half. Its tail is a very pow- 
erful member, but not remarkable for its 
length. 
The Jerboa is a very small animal, of the 
Ratel or Mouse kind, with a very long tail, 
and a native of Asia, and Africa. The Sibe- 
rian Jerboa has a body of the length of eight 
inches, with a tail of ten. In feeding and 
general habits of life it much resembles the 
Marmot. Its burrows are many yards long, 
T3 
