MR.  E.  T.  BENNETT'S  ACCOUNT  OF  MACROPUS  PARRYI. 
297 
The  measurements  of  Parry's  Kangaroo,  as  compared  with  a  specimen  of  the  common 
or  greater  Kangaroo  in  the  Society's  Museum,  are  as  follows  : 
Macr 
Parryi. 
Ufa  or 
r  L. 
in. 
Ft. 
Tn 
111. 
Total  length  from  the  muzzle  to  the  tip  of  the  tail  .    .  . 
5 
4 
6 
« 
Girth  round  the  middle  of  the  body 
1 
8 
2 
6 
Length  of  the  head  
6 
9 
 body  
2 
4 
3 
2 
 tail  
2 
6 
2 
9 
 ear  
4 
44- 
Breadth  of  the  ear  
2 
24 
Length  of  the  hinder  foot  from  the  calcaneum  to  the  tip  of 
the  longest  claw  
1 
2 
Length  of  the  tibia  
1 
1 
 fore  arm  and  foot  from  the  olecranon  to  the 
tip  of  the  longest  claw  
9 
The  two  latter  measurements  are  not  given  in  the  common  species,  the  specimen  com- 
pared being  without  bones  in  those  parts,  and  consequently  liable  to  contraction  or 
distension  under  the  hands  of  the  stutFer.  A  second  specimen  of  Macr.  major  in  the 
Collection  measures  3  feet  in  the  length  of  the  body,  and  2  feet  8  inches  in  that  of  the 
tail. 
Sir  Edward  Parry  states  the  animal  "  to  have  been  obtained  at  Stroud,  near  Port 
Stephens,  in  the  latitude  of  about  30°  South.  It  was  caught  by  the  natives,  by  whom 
it  is  called  WuUliroo ;  having  been  thrown  out  of  its  mother's  pouch  when  the  latter  was 
hunted.  At  that  time  it  was  somewhat  less  than  a  rabbit ;  but  having  continued  in 
the  possession  of  Sir  Edward  Parry  for  more  than  two  years  in  New  South  Wales,  be- 
sides six  months  on  the  passage  to  England,  it  may  be  considered  as  fully  grown.  It 
was  never  kept  in  confinement  until  it  was  embarked  for  England,  but  lived  in  the 
kitchen,  and  ran  about  the  house  and  grounds  like  a  dog,  going  out  every  night  after 
dusk  into  "  the  bush"  (or  forest)  to  feed,  and  usually  returning  to  its  friend  the  man- 
cook,  in  whose  bed  it  slept,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Besides  what  it  might 
obtain  in  these  excursions,  it  ate  meat,  bread,  vegetables,  in  short,  anything  given  to  it 
by  the  cook,  with  whom  it  was  extremely  tame,  but  would  allow  nobody  else  to  take 
liberties  with  it.  It  expressed  its  anger  when  very  closely  approached  by  others,  by  a 
sort  of  half-grunting,  half-hissing,  very  discordant  sound,  which  appeared  to  come  from 
the  throat,  without  altering  the  expression  of  the  countenance.  In  the  daytime  it  would 
occasionally,  but  not  often,  venture  out  to  a  considerable  distance  from  home  ;  in  which 
case  it  would  sometimes  be  chased  back  by  strange  dogs,  especially  those  belonging  to 
the  natives.  From  these,  however,  it  had  no  difficulty  in  escaping,  through  its  extreme 
