242 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



but during the mating season the males are liable 

 to become bad tempered and even dangerous. 



The animal's strong legs and long toes armed 

 ■with sharp claws prove formidable weapons of 

 offence, the creature facing its enemy, rearing 

 itself up and momentarily balancing itself on its 

 thick tail, and striking forwards and downwards 

 with a mighty stroke that will rip up a man's body. 



One of the largest of the kangaroos is the red- 

 kangaroo (Macropv^ rufus), a full-grown male 

 measuring about eight feet in length, inclusive of 

 its taU. It receives its name from the reddish 

 tint of the male's fur, especially that upon the 

 throat, but the fur of the female, frequently spoken 

 of as the ' flying doe ' on account of its great speed, 

 is grey. In distribution it is confined to Southern 

 and Eastern Australia, where it is found amidst 

 the rocky districts. 



Another large species is the grey or great kangaroo 

 (Macropus giganteus), known by the colonists as 

 the ' boomer,' ' old man,' or ' forester.' Unlike 

 the red-kangaroo, it dwells in the open plains. 



The waUaroo {Macropus rdbustus) of Queensland, 

 New South Wales and South Australia, sometimes 

 spoken of as the great rock-kangaroo, is readily 

 distinguished from the typical kangaroos by the 

 nature of its coat, this being long, thick, and 

 smoky-grey in colour. It lives amidst the rocky 

 regions and is stated to be more dangerous than 

 other kangaroos on account of its habit of attacking 

 its enemies and causing them to fall from the rugged 

 heights. 



