672 
VERTEBRATA. 
SKELETON OF THE GIANT KANGAROO. 
and the upper lip is cleft. The dentition consists of six incisors in the upper jaw, but only two 
in the lower ; the canines are always deficient in the lower jaw, and very small in the upper, 
where they are also sometimes wanting or concealed by the gums, so that there is always a con- 
siderable space between the incisors and the molars, which are five in number on each side, and 
of a more or less quadrangular form. The anterior feet are furnished with five toes, each of which 
is armed with a claw; the hind-feet, on the contrary, only possess four toes, the inner one or great 
toe being deficient. Of these the two outer are the largest, and are terminated by strong, hoof- 
like nails, while the inner ones are united toofether as far as the root of the nails. The stomach 
is of a complex structure, being divided by constrictions into several compartments, and Professor 
Owen has observed a sort of rumination to take place in some species. The kangaroos are almost 
entirely confined to Australia and Van Diemen's Land, but species are found in the adjacent 
islands, and even in New Guinea. They are entirely herbivorous, and live for the most part in 
the grassy plains ; but some species are found in rocky places. They are timid creatures, but 
when seized defend themselves with violent strokes of their hind-feet, which, from their great 
power and the strength of their nails, constitute formidable weapons. Unlike the generality of 
herbivorous animals, however, they do not usually collect into flocks, although they may some- 
times be seen in considerable numbers together. In feeding they rest upon the fore-feet, and 
when thus engaged, the young, which frequently retreat to the abdominal pouch long after they 
are able to graze like their parents, may often be seen protruding their heads, and cropping the 
herbage at the same time Avith their mother ; they also sometimes run on all fours when pursued 
by dogs. Their ordinary mode of progression, however, consists in long leaps, effected by the 
