IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 171 



(238) THE GREAT KANGAROO. 



(MACROPUS GIGANTEUS— Linn.) 

 Had,— Eastern Australia and Tasmania. 



(239) THE RED KANGAROO. 

 (MACROPUS RUFFS— (Desm.) ) 



Sab. — Australia. 



Kangaroos are very characteristic animals, distinguished from all 

 others by the peculiarities of their general conformation, especially of 

 the limbs. 



• (240) BENNETT'S WALLABY. 

 (MACROPUS BENNETTI— Waterhouse.) 

 Sab. — Australia. 



(241) THE BLACK WALLABY. 

 (MACROPUS UALABATUS— (Less.) ) 

 Sab. — Australia. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The kangaroos and wallabies have not done as well as might have 

 been expected. Some of them have, however, lived since 1882. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — A sleeping chamber with a dry raised floor, opening 

 into a spacious foraging ground, forms capital accommodation for 

 kangaroos and wallabies. There is no objection to their keeping company 

 with each other in the large open-air enclosure, but their retiring 

 chambers should be distinct for each species. Here in Lower Bengal, 

 the ground being generally damp, it is on the whole better to provide 

 a low wooden platform, wherever possible, and induce the animal 

 to sleep upon it. 



Food. — Kangaroos and wallabies are strictly vegetable feeders ; 

 besides grass and. leaves which they pick up for themselves, a small 

 quantity of Indian-corn > wheat, and other grain is generally allowed 

 them. 



Breeding, — The wallabies have on several occasions bred in this 

 garden. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Paralysis of the lower limbs is a common disease among the 

 kangaroos and wallabies in this garden, brought on, no doubt, by damp- 

 ness of the floor of their sleeping chamber and want of exercise. In 



