THE KANGURU. 



Generic Characters. 

 No canine teeth ; four broad cutting teeth in the upper jaw ; two long 

 lanceolated teeth in the lower, pointing forward ; four (a) grinding teeth 

 in each jaw, remote from the others. This animal has the very lingular 

 power of feparating the lower incifores, and bringing them again clofe to 

 each other. Pennant's Hijl. of Quad* 3d. edit. vol. ii. p. 29. 



Synonims. 



Jerboa Gigantea, Zimmerm. Z00L Geogr. 520. 

 Kanguroo, Cook's Voy. iii. p. 577. pi. 20. 

 Kanguru, Pennant's Hift. Quad. p. 330. pi. 35. 



IT is to the indefatigable ardour and enterprifing fpirit of Sir Jofeph 

 Banks, that we are indebted for our nrft acquaintance with this moll 

 lingular quadruped. Separated, by its native abode, from the enquiring eye 

 of the naturalift, it remained wholly unknown till the country, of which it 

 is a native, was full explored by that great circumnavigator, Captain Cook, 

 who, fortunately for the lovers of that branch of fcience, was accompanied 

 by that eminent enquirer into the productions of nature. 



The uncommon general appearance of this animal, added to the 

 dilpolition of its teeth, would almolt warrant its being made a new genus 

 of ; although it mull be confelfed, on the other hand, that fome properties 

 it poffeffes, in common with the Opolfum, feem to declare it of that genus ; 



(a) Mr. White, in his Account of the Productions of South Wales, fays this animal has five grinders 

 on each fide, in each jaw ; and that the moft forward of them is very fmall. — P. 274. 



