22 ISIAMMALIA. 



we read of in mytliology, receiving fresh vigour every time they 



touch the ground. 



To complete the portrait of the Giant Kangaroo, we must add 

 that its muzzle is long and slender ; its ears large and straight ; its 

 body thin in front ; very massive, on the contrary, behind ; that it 

 possesses only four toes on the posterior extremities, and that one 

 of these toes is provided with a most murderous nail ; that its coat 

 is composed of silky hair on the head, the members, and the tail, 

 and of wooUy hair on the rest of the body ; lastly, that in its diet 

 it is essentially herbivorous. 



The Kangaroos inhabit Australia and Yan Diemen's Land; three 

 species onljr are fomid in New Guinea. They live in little troops, 

 placed, it is said, under the direction of old males, and keep by 

 preference to woody places. The females have one, or at most two 

 young ones at a litter. Their flesh is excellent ; they are accord- 

 ingly keenly pursued by sportsmen, with Dogs trained especially 

 for the puri^osc — a breed between the Mastiif and the Greyhound. 



The tail of these animals is not only an apparatus of propulsion, 

 it serves them also as a defensive arm. Many a time have 

 Kangaroos, pursued by Dogs, been seen to strike them heavy 

 blows with their tails. But that which protects them more 

 efficaciously than this organ against the attacks of their enemies is 

 the powerful nail which terminates the fourth toe of their hind 

 leg. Isidore Geofiroy Saint-Hilaire states that, to make use of it, 

 the Kangaroo stands erect against a tree ; leaning on this with its 

 fore paws, it sujjports itself with its tail. This tree, or any other 

 obstacle high enough for the purpose, is absolutely necessary to it, 

 since, as it always moves its two hind limbs at the same time, it 

 cannot lean upon one and employ the other in fighting. 



When a combat takes place between two Kangaroos matters are 

 arranged in a much simpler manner. The adversaries stand up 

 face to face against each other, and tear each other's bellies to 

 pieces, as a couple of Japanese might do. The males alone 

 fight in this manner amongst themselves. 



Kangaroos easily accommodate themselves to captivity ; they 

 bear the climate of Europe perfectly, and breed freely in our 

 menageries. It would therefore be very desirable to encourage, 

 by all means in our power, their multiplication in our coimtry, as 

 they have begun to do in England ; especially as, saj's M. Florent- 



