192 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



off the Western and Southern coasts. The smaller kind inhabit the 

 mainland. Lydekker states that the Dama Wallaby owes its Latin 

 name to the supposition that it was first obtained on Eugene Island, 

 off the West coast, while Dama is said to be the name given to the 

 species by the aborigints of the mainland. As with so many 

 Marsupials, very little appears to be known about the habits of the 

 Dama Wallaby. 



TREE KANGAROOS. — The Tree Kangaroos (Fig. 151) are most 

 remarkable animals, and they are also very beautiful. There are 

 five species; three inhabit New Guinea, and two are found in North 

 Queensland. Few people associate Kangaroos with trees; their 

 powerful hind-limbs and great tails seem to point to a purely 

 terrestrial existence. Yet, as stated above, no fewer than five 

 members of the family are adapted for an arboreal life. Perhaps 

 some readers of this book have seen a Tree Kangaroo at some 

 Zoological Society's Gardens, and been astonished at the agile 

 manner in which the Marsupial moves about its leafy dwelling- 

 place. Few naturalists even have seen more of the living Tree 

 Kangaroo than this, for they are found in remote wilds, and are 

 shy and difficult to approach. Tree Kangaroos are characterized 

 by having both pairs of limbs normally proportioned to the body. 

 There is but a slight difference in the length of the front and the 

 hinder pair. The tail is very long and thick. 



LUMHOLTZ'S TREE KANGAROO. — The best known of the four 

 species of the genus Dendrolagus is that which inhabits the Herbert 

 River district. Northern Queensland. Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo 

 (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) is named after its discoverer, the famous 

 naturalist-traveller. Dr. Carl Lumholtz, who came to Australia in 

 the year 1880 with the object of making collections for the 

 zoological and zootomical museums of the University of Christiania. 

 He spent fourteen months in constant travel and study in Northern 

 Queensland, but he brought back to Europe no more remarkable 

 specimen than the Tree Kangaroo which bears his name. The story 

 of ho\y the new mammal was discovered is related in Dr. Lumholtz's 

 interesting book, Avfiong Cannibals. The natives had told him 

 of the existence of a tree-dwelling Kangaroo, and he knew no rest 

 until they brought him a specimen of the strange creature known 

 to them as "Boongary." 



"I had just eaten my dinner," he writes, "and was enjoying 

 the shade in my hut, while my men were lying about smoking their 



