OSPHRANTER RUFUS. 
Great Red Kang*aroo. 
Head of a Male, life-size. 
I REGRET very much to say that the time may not he far distant when an opportunity 
of giving a full-sized drawing of the head of this noble animal, taken from hfe, will not be 
possible. The larger and more conspicuous productions of an island are often, as a 
natural consequence, the first that become extirpated; and this result takes place more 
speedily where no protection is afforded to them. Short-sighted indeed are the Anglo- 
Australians, or they would long ere this have made laws for the preservation of their highly 
singular, and in many instances noble, indigenous animals ; and doubly short-sighted are they 
for wishing to introduce into Australia the productions of other climes, whose forms and 
nature are not adapted to that country. Let me then urge them to bestir themselves, ere 
it be too late, to establish laws for the preservation of the large Kangaroos, the Emeu, and 
other conspicuous indigenous animals : without some such protection, the remnant that is 
left wiU soon disappear, to be followed by unavaihng regret for the apathy with which 
they had been previously regarded. I make no apology, therefore, for publishing a life-sized 
head of the Great Red Kangaroo of the plains, a detailed history of which will be found 
accompanying the reduced figures. 
