HALMATURUS BENNETTL 
Bennett’s Wallaby. 
Macropus Bennettii, Waterh. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part v. p. 103. — Ib. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Marsupialia, p. 211. 
pi. 19. 
(^Halmaturus^ fruticus, Ogilby, Ann. of Nat. Hist. 1838, vol. i. p. 219. 
Halmaturus Ualahatus, Gray, Mag. of Nat. Hist, new ser. 1837, vol. i. p. 583. 
Bennettii, Gould, Mon. of Macropodidse, pi. . — Wagn. in Schreb. Sang. Suppl. Ill, 112. Heft, 
p. 115. — Gray, List of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 89. 
Macropus ruficoUis, var. Bennettii, Waterh. Nat. Hist, of Mamm., vol. i. p. 130. — Gunn in Proc. Roy. Soc. of Van 
Diem. Land, vol. ii. p. 88. 
Halmaturus leptonyx, Wagn. 
Brush Kangaroo, Colonists of Van Diemen’s Land. 
The native habitat of the animal here represented is Van Diemen’s Land and the larger islands in 
Bass’s Straits. It Avould be useless to attempt an enumeration of the loealities in which it may be found, 
since its dispersion may be said to he general over the islands named, from the snowy summits of Mount 
Wellington and the hills of lesser elevation to the forests in the lowest valleys ; it evinces, however, 
a decided preference to situations of a humid character, being seldom, if ever, seen on the hot and sandy 
plains : the localities it affects afford it a retreat, so secure as to preclude all chance of its extermination, 
although many thousands are killed annually for the sake of its flesh, which is very generally eaten and 
highly esteemed, being delicate, juicy and well-flavoured; its skin also forms a considerable article of 
commerce, being largely exported from Van Diemen’s Land into England for the manufacture of the upper 
parts of boots and shoes, for which it is admirably adapted, besides being extensively used for the same 
purpose in the colony. I have read advertisements in the Hobart Town newspapers, stating that three 
thousand skins were immediately wanted, and which were quickly supplied by the settlers, servants and 
shepherds at the out-stations : the skins are generally taken off on the spot where the animal is killed, 
and afterwards stretched on the ground to dry ; they are then sold for about fourpence or sixpence each 
to persons who visit the stock stations of the interior for the purpose of collecting them, and who retail 
them again in Hobart Town or Launceston to the advertiser or others for colonial consumption or for 
exportation . 
The Bennett’s Wallaby is gregarious in its habits, and although truly a brush animal, does not confine 
itself so strictly to localities of that description as the smaller members of the genus, hut frequently resorts 
to the thinly-timbered forests and the crowns of the low grassy hills, always, however, seeking security in 
the thick brush when pursued, or such steep rocky acclivities as present almost insurmountable obstacles 
to the pursuit with dogs. It is one of the most hardy members of its family, and would doubtless readily 
become acclimatized in this country, since the temperature of Van Diemen’s Land more nearly resembles 
that of the British Islands than does any other part of Australia, in proof of which I may mention that 
numbers have been bred in the Menagerie of the Zoological Society, in that of the late Earl of Derby, and 
others. 
“ In a large piece of enclosed ground in his Lordship’s park,” says Mr. Waterhouse, “ I had the pleasure 
of seeing many individuals of the Brush Kangaroo in a state of comparative freedom, and where they 
appeared to thrive well. When I entered the paddock in which they were kept, being all concealed beneath 
some heath, I was not aware of their presence until, on approaching their place of shelter, they suddenly 
elevated the fore part of their bodies and then darted off to a distant spot with great swiftness. When at 
rest they frequently assume a singular position ; the fore feet are applied to the ground, and they at the 
same time sit upon their haunches, having the hind legs stretched forwards, and perfectly straight, as well 
as the tail, which lies between them. The young animal does not finally quit the pouch of the mother until 
some time after it has attained the size of a full-grown rabbit ; at which time it does not differ in colouring 
from the parent.” 
The full-grown male varies in weight from forty to sixty pounds : the haunch and loins are the only parts 
