ORDER CARNASSIER. 47 



the closest relation. The disproportion between its fore 

 and hinder limbs sufficiently indicates the facility which it 

 must possess in jumping. 



The last subdivision of the Marsupiata is partially 

 edentatous, being destitute of canines. 



The Gigantic Kanguroo (of Cook.) — Buffon, whose only 

 errors were those of genius, clearly perceived that every con- 

 tinent, in its animal productions, presented the appearance 

 of an especial creation ; but he gave an universality to this 

 proposition, of which it is not altogether susceptible. It 

 is nevertheless true, even at the present day, within certain 

 limits. A great number of the Asiatic animals are not 

 found in Africa, and vice versa. The Lemurs seem to 

 exist only in Madagascar. America is peopled with a host 

 of Mammalia, exclusively peculiar to itself, and there are 

 many more in Europe not to be found in the other quarters 

 of the globe. The discovery of Australasia has given an ad- 

 ditional support to this opinion of Buffon. The species of 

 animals there discovered, have not only no affinity with 

 those of the other continents, but, in fact, belong for the 

 most part to genera altogether different. Such are those 

 Mammalia which the natives of New Holland call Kan- 

 guroo, and which offer to the observation of the naturalist, 

 organic peculiarities perceivable in no other animal, with the 

 exception of one single species. It is in this tribe that for 

 the first time we view the singular phenomenon of an animal 

 using its tail as a third hind leg in standing upright and 

 in walking. The species we are now upon has received 

 the name of Gigantic, because when named, it was sup- 

 posed to be the largest of all that are known. It was dis- 

 covered by Cook in his third voyage. 



These are the dimensions of a Kanguroo, represented by 

 M. F. Cuvier: the measures are French :— from the origin 

 of the tail to the extremity of the neck, two feet one inch. 

 From the hinder part of the head to the end of the snout, 



