Central Parts of Victoria. 



69 



tree on which it sits. This remarkable animal^ like the cat, 

 has the power of contracting and expanding the pupil of the 

 eye. Its skin is remarkably thick, and the back is covered 

 with dense woolly fur. It is very difficult to skin, and the 

 natives regard it with the same superstition as the wombat, 

 already mentioned. The male has a gland on the breast 

 which emits a very strong and offensive odour. The kaola 

 uses the two first toes on the fore paws jointly for the thumb; 

 it is a very inactive animal, being known to remain several 

 days on the highest branch of a tree, without any other mo- 

 tion than that of drawing the branches to it, on the leaves 

 of which it feeds. Even when shot it merely shrinks at the 

 report of the gun, but in nowise offers to move. The natives 

 aver that the koala never drinks water, and from the insuffi- 

 ciency of opposite testimony on this point, it is highly proba- 

 ble that such is the case ; as I have myself kept one alive 

 for three weeks without beinG; able to induce it to drink. 

 When thus placed in confinement, it barks in a melancholy 

 tone during the night, like a dog. 



In September the young koala is in the last period of de- 

 pendency upon its parent, and may be observed sitting on 

 the back of the mother. 



Halmaturini (Kangaroos). — During my travels in Victoria 

 I have met with seven distinct species of kangaroo ; but in- 

 sufficiency of leisure time has prevented me from making 

 those observations which I otherwise should have desired, 

 and I add only a few remarks concerning those varieties 

 which are the most common. 



1. Halmaturus gigantea, — This species, so well known to 

 the colonists by the names of forester, old man, boomer, &c., 

 has now entirely disappeared from the neighbovirhood of 

 Mount Macedon, a locality in which it was formerly exceed- 

 ingly plentiful. The Black Ranges, however, on the Goul- 

 burn, are yet inhabited by considerable numbers of these 

 animals. 



The Wallaby (Maci'opus nalahatus) is plentiful in the 

 lonely passes of Mount Macedon; but the amazing rapidity 

 with which it retreats into the dense scrub, at the least signal 

 of alarm, renders it of very difficult capture, unless the 

 sportsman be well provided with good dogs trained to the 

 chase. 



Hypsiprymnus (Kangaroo rat). — Two species of this ani- 

 mal have come under my notice, viz., the common variety, 

 with the white-pointed tail ; and a new species, the tail of 

 which is completely destitute of fur. 



