380 



THE ROOK KANGAROO. 



which terminates that member, we arrive at the Whallabee, or Wallaby, as the word is 

 sometimes spelled. 



The genus to which this animal belongs is easily distinguished from the genus Macropus, 

 by reason of the muzzle being devoid of hair. This creature is not nearly so large as the com- 

 mon or the woolly Kangaroo, being only four feet six inches in total length, of which measure- 

 ment the tail occupies two feet. 



The fur of the Whallabee is rather long and coarse in texture, being decidedly harsh to 

 the touch. The color is rather curious, being a darkish-brown washed with a warm rusty hue, 

 and obscurely pencilled with whitish-gray. The whole of the under portions of the body are 

 of a yellowish tint, and the feet and the wrists are quite black. The tail is also rather singular 



WHALLABEE.— Halmaturus ualdbatus. 



in its coloring, by which it is divided into three nearly equal portions. The dorsal third of 

 the tail is of the same color as the back, but the remaining two-thirds change abruptly from 

 brown to black. 



The animal is an inhabitant of New South Wales, and is of tolerably frequent occurrence 

 in the neighborhood of Port Jackson. It is sometimes known by the name of the Aroe' Kan- 

 garoo. The singular word ualabatus has no particular meaning, being only the harsh Latinized 

 form of the native name Whallabee. The genus embraces a considerable number of species, 

 some twelve or thirteen being acknowledged to belong to it. 



One of the most singular of this singular group of animals is the Rock Kangaroo, which 

 has derived its popular name from its rock-loving habits. 



In the Tree Kangaroo we have already seen a remarkable instance of unexpected powers, 

 and the Rock Kangaroo will shortly be seen to be possessed of equal, if not of superior bodily 

 prowess. The agility with which this animal traverses the dangerous precipices among which 

 it lives is so very great, that when the creature is engaged in skipping about the craggy rocks 

 that shroud its dwelling-place from too vigilant eyes, it bears so close a resemblance to a 

 monkey in its movements, that it has, on many occasions, been mistaken for that active 

 animal. Not only does it resemble the quadrumana in its marvellously easy manner of ascend- 



