1 6 THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



and this when first born is so exceedingly diminutive as scarcely to exceed an inch in length, and 

 weighing not more than twenty or twenty-two grains. It is received into the abdominal pouch of the 

 mother, though its mouth is merely around hole, just large enough to receive the point of the nipple. 

 The mouth, however, gradually extends with age, until it be capable of receiving the whole 

 nipple, which then lies in a groove formed in the middle of the tongue. At this period of its growth, 

 feeble as it is in other respects, its fore-paws are comparatively large and strong, and the claws extremely 

 distinct, to facilitate the motion of the little animal during its residence in the pouch ; the hinder legs, 

 which are afterwards to become very long and stout, are now both shorter and smaller than the others. 

 The young one continues to reside in the pouch till it has nearly attained its full maturity. It 

 occasionally creeps out for exercise or amusement, and even after it has quitted this maternal retreat, it 

 often runs into it for shelter on the least indication of danger. 



The Kangaroo generally feeds standing on its four feet in the manner of other quadrupeds, and it 

 drinks by lapping. In a state of captivity it has a trick of sometimes springing forward and kicking 

 in a forcible manner with its hind feet, during which action it rests or props itself on the base of its 

 tail. 



In the work lately published, entitled " Two Years in New South Wales," by Mr. Cunningham, 

 he relates the following interesting anecdote respecting the Kangaroo, which may be justly characterized 

 as a specimen of Kangaroo waggery. 



" One of the largest tame Kangaroos I have seen in this country, 1 ' he says, " is domiciled 

 here, and a mischievous wag he is, creeping and snuffling cautiously towards a stranger, with such an 

 innocently expressive countenance, that roguery could never be surmised to exist under it — when 

 having obtained, as he thinks, a sufficient introduction, he claps his fore-paws on your shoulders, as 

 if to caress you, and raising himself suddenly upon his tail, administers such a desperate push with 

 his hind legs, that it is two to one but he drives you heels over head. This is all done in what he 

 considers facetious play, with the view of giving you a hint to examine your pockets, and see what 

 bon-bons you have got for him, as he munches cakes and comfits with epicurean gout, and if the 

 door be ajar, he will gravely take his station behind your chair at meal-time, like a lackey, giving you 

 an admonitory kick every now and then, if you fail to help him as well as yourself." 



Their flesh is eaten by the colonists, and is said to be highly nutritious and savoury, and this 

 assertion has been confirmed by those who have partaken of it in England. It is the principal object 

 of the chase in its native country, and those who have enjoyed the sport, represent it as highly 

 ludicrous on account of the extraordinary motion of the animal in its repeated bounds, and the 

 stratagems which it makes use of to effect its escape. In a state of confinement it perambulates its 

 den in a circular track, scarcely ever crossing it except for the purpose of procuring its food. 



The colour of the Kangaroo is a brownish grey on the back, but underneath it assumes a fighter 

 tinge. The extremity of the muzzle, the feet, the back of the ear, and the upper part of the tail are 

 nearly black ; the throat is a greyish white ; and the hair of a soft and silken texture. 



The animals of which we are now treating were brought to this country from New Holland by 

 Captain Bligh, and they appeared for some time to endure the climate of Cobham Hall with every 

 expectation of their being eventually naturalized ; from some cause, however, not yet ascertained, 

 thej- died a few months after their portrait was taken, but some very fine specimens of them are still 

 to be seen in the collection of his Majesty, at Windsor, and in some of the itinerant menageries. 



