vii BRUVN AND SIR JOSEPH BANKS I 33 



but is crested in M. irma. They are for the most part found on 

 the Australian continent, but some species are found in tlie 

 islands to the north which belong to the Australian region. 

 Thus M. brunii, which is of interest as the first Kangaroo seen 

 by a European, is a native of the Aru islands. A specimen of 

 this animal, which was then living in the garden of the Dutch 

 governor of Batavia, was described by Bruyn in the year 1711. 

 JT. rufus, the largest member of the group, is remarkable for the 

 red secretion which adorns the neck of the male. It is caused 

 by particles which have the appearance and colour of carmine. 

 JZ giganteus is not, as its specific name might imply, the " giant " 

 of the race ; its dimensions are given as 5 feet, while M. rvfus 

 is said to attain a length of 5 feet 5 inches, exclusive (in both 

 cases) > of the tail. 



The account which Sir Joseph Banks gives ^ in his diary 

 of the Kangaroo is interesting, since he was one of the first 

 naturalists to see that creature. In July 1770 it was reported 

 to him that an " animal as large as a greyhound, of a mouse 

 colour, and very swift " had been seen by his people. A little 

 later he was surprised to oljserve that the animal " went only 

 upon two legs, making vast bounds just as the jerboa does." 

 The second lieutenant killed one of these Kangaroos, of which 

 Sir Joseph Banks wrote that " to compare it to any European 

 animal would be impossible, as it has not the least resemblance 

 to any one I have seen. Its fore-limbs are extremely short and 

 of no use to it in walking ; its hind, again, as disproportionately 

 long ; with these it hops seven or eight feet at a time, in the 

 same manner as the jerboa, bo which animal indeed it bears much 

 resemblance, except in size, this being in weight 38 lbs., and the 

 jerboa no larger than a common rat." The beast was killed and 

 eaten, and proved excellent meat. Sir Joseph Banks' observations 

 upon the leaping of the Kangaroo are of interest, because it is 

 often asserted that the tail is largely made use of as a third foot 

 or as a support. Mr. Aflalo declares in the most positive way 

 that after repeatedly examining the tracks upon soft sand imme- 

 diately after the animal had passed, not the very faintest trace 

 of the impression of the tail could be discovered. The leaps of 

 a big Kangaroo seem to be somewhat greater than is recorded 



•■ Journal of the St. Son. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., K.B., P. U.S., edited hy Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, London, 1896. 



