VARIETIES OF KANGAROO 187 
THE KANGAROO FAMILY 
Macropodidae 
Tn Australia, the land of queer things, nearly all the land 
mammals are marsupials. The Order includes the kangaroos, 
large and small; wombat, Tasmanian wolf, Tasmanian devil, 
koala and many others. All kangaroos come either from 
Australia, Tasmania or New Guinea, but one group of small 
wallabies extends its range to New Britain and the Aru 
Islands. The great majority of these creatures dwell on 
the ground in the open plains, or in the “bush” of Australia. 
In northern Queensland and New Guinea are four species of 
‘Tree Kangaroos, which actually climb trees and inhabit them. 
The largest species is the great Gray KancGaroo,' also 
called ‘‘Old man”? and “Boomer,” which stands over 4 feet 
high, weighs nearly 200 pounds, and when frightened can 
leap twenty feet or more. The smallest species are the Rat 
KanGaroos, some of which are but 14 inches high. Despite 
their nocturnal habits specimens are frequently seen in cap- 
tivity. One of the handsomest of all the species is the Rep 
KANGAROO,’ a creature about 4 feet high, frequently seen in 
captivity, and quickly recognized by its brick-red color and 
fine, silky hair. Several small species of Kangaroos are called 
Wat’.asies, and the species figured herewith is a good repre- 
sentative of this whole Family. 
The Kangaroo is a strange variation in form from the 
ordinary terrestrial mammal. Its extremely long, strong hind 
legs and massive tail, also of great length, form a wonderful 
1 Mac-ro’pus gi-gan'te-us. 2 Macropus ru’fus. 
