THE WOMBAT. 381 



ing rocks, but it also emulates those creatures in the art of tree-climbing, being able to ascend 

 a tree-trunk with ease, provided that it be a little divergent from the perpendicular. 



By means of its great scansorial capabilities, the Rock Kangaroo is enabled to baffle the 

 efforts of its worst foes, the dingo and the native black man. In vain does the voracious and 

 hungry dingo set off in chase of the Rock Kangaroo, for as soon as the creature has gained the 

 shelter of its congenial rocks, it bounds from point to point with an agility which the dingo 

 can by no means emulate, and very soon places itself in safety, leaving its baffled pursuer to 

 vent its disappointment in cries of rage. 



The only method in which the dingo is likely to catch one of these animals, is by creeping 

 unsuspectedly into its den, and seizing it before it can make its escape. Both the dingo and 

 the Rock Kangaroo are in the habit of making their resting-place in some rocky crevice, and 

 it might happen that the Kangaroo might choose too low a domicile, and perchance make 

 choice of the very same crevice that a dingo was about to appropriate to himself. In order, 

 however, to escape such dangers, the habitation of the Rock Kangaroo is generally furnished 

 with two or more outlets, so that its chances of escape are proportionably multiplied. 



It is by means of this precaution that the creature baffles the best efforts of the natives. 

 Should a native be fortunate enough to spear a Rock Kangaroo, but not fortunate enough to 

 kill it on the spot, the animal dives at once into its rocky abode, and there awaits its death ; for 

 the rocks are too hard to be destroyed by the tools of the aborigines, and if the sable hunter 

 has recourse to fire, and tries to smoke out his intended prey, the smoke rolls harmlessly 

 through the rocky burrow and makes its exit through the various entries, without causing 

 very much inconvenience to the concealed inmate. 



It is found that when the Rock Kangaroo comes from its cavernous home, it is in the 

 habit of taking the same route along the rocks, so that by continually passing over the same 

 ground, its sharp and powerful claws make a very visible track over the stones, and afford an 

 infallible guide to the acute sense of the black hunter, who is enabled to follow up the trail 

 and to ascertain the precise crevice in which the animal has taken up its abode. 



Generally nocturnal in its habits, the Rock Kangaroo is not seen so often as might be 

 expected, considering the frequency of its occurrence. Now and then, however, it ventures 

 from its dark home and braves the light of day, skipping daintily over the rocky prominences, 

 or lying in the full blaze of the sunlight, and enjoying the genial warmth of the noontide 

 beams. The native and colonial hunters watch eagerly for a basking Kangaroo, for when thus 

 engaged, it is so fully taken up with appreciation of the warm sunbeams, that it can be 

 approached and shot without difficulty. As its flesh is thought to be remarkably excellent, 

 the animal is eagerly sought after by the hunters. It is rather gregarious in its habits, being 

 generally found in little parties of two or three in number. 



The color of this animal is rather varied, but is generally of a purplish or vinous gray, 

 which warms into a rich rusty red upon the hind-quarters and the base of the tail. The chest 

 is purplish-gray, pencilled with white, the chin is white, and a very conspicuous white band 

 runs along the throat to the chest. The fur is not in very great repute, as, although long, it 

 is rough and harsh to the touch. The total leugth of an adult male is about four feet, the tail 

 being about twenty-three inches in length. The tail is furnished with a moderately sized tuft 

 of dark hairs, each hair being about three inches in length, a peculiarity which has earned for 

 the animal the name of Brush-tailed Kangaroo. The body is strong and robust in its form, 

 and the claws of the hinder feet are powerful in their make, as might be expected in an animal 

 of such habits. The feet are so densely covered with fur that the claws are nearly hidden in 

 the thick hairy coat. It is a tolerably hardy animal. 



The habitation of the Rock Kangaroo is in the south-eastern portions of Australia, and on 

 account of its peculiar habits it is a very local animal, being restricted to those districts which 

 are furnished with rocks or mountain ranges. 



The Wombat, or Australian Badger, as it is popularly called by the colonists, is so 

 singularly unlike the preceding and succeeding animals in its aspect and habits, that it might 

 well be supposed to belong to quite a different order ; indeed, in all its exterior character with 



