510 GREAT KANGUROO. 
to Botany Bay, viz. eight feet from the tip of the 
nose to that of the tail : length of the tail three 
feet one inch : of the head eleven inches : of the 
fore legs two feet : of the hind three feet seven 
inches : circumference of the fore part of the ani- 
mal near the legs, three feet nine inches : of the 
lower part near the legs four feet five inches: 
round the thickest end of the tail one foot one 
inch. The weight of the largest specimens is 
said to have been about 150 pounds; but it is 
imagined that this animal attains a still larger 
size. 
Though the general position of the Kanguroo, 
when at rest, is standing on its hind feet, as re- 
presented in the figure, yet it frequently places its 
fore feet on the ground also, and thus feeds in 
the manner of other quadrupeds. It drinks by 
lapping. In its natural state it is extremely 
timid, and springs from the sight of mankind by 
vast bounds of many feet in height, and to a sur- 
prising distance. When in a state of captivity 
it has sometimes a way of springing forwards and 
kicking with its hind feet in a very forcible and 
violent manner; during which action it rests or 
props itself on the base of the tail. In a natural 
state it sometimes uses its tail as a weapon of de- 
fence, and will give such severe blows with it to 
dogs as to oblige them to desist from their at- 
tack. The female Kanguroo has two mammae or 
breasts situated in the abdominal pouch, and on 
each are seated tw^o teats; yet, so far as has hi- 
therto been observed, the animal produces but 
