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The Kangaroos inhabit the continent of Australia, as well 
as Van Diemen’s Land and other of the adjacent islands ; 
they, in common with nearly the whole fauna of the Austral- 
ian region, belong to the order Marsupialia. 
These animals derive their name from a pouch or bag situ- 
ated on the lower part of the abdomen in the female, and 
containing the teats. The young animal being born — so to 
speak — prematurely, is in an undeveloped condition, and is 
at once placed by the mother in this pouch, where it attaches 
itself to a nipple and remains for some weeks, until it has 
attained a weight of several pounds, when it gradually begins 
to come forth. It does not permanently leave the bag until it 
has grown so large as to be of an inconvenient size for the 
mother to carry about. The order is a large one, containing 
nine-tenths of the fauna of the Australian region, and includ- 
ing the opossums of America. It presents a striking variety of 
habits and adaptations of form among its members ; many of 
the other mammalian orders being represented by marsupial 
forms, which agree, more or less perfectly, with them in habits. 
The Kangaroos fill a number of places in the economy of 
their native region — there being Brush Kangaroos, Rock 
Kangaroos, and Tree Kangaroos, all of which are equally at 
home in the surroundings indicated by their respective names. 
The Wallabys are a sub-group of Kangaroos, differing slightly 
in structure. 
The Rufous Rat Kangaroo {Hypsiprymnus rufescens) is 
a small member of the family from New South Wales. 
The Aoudad (^Ovis tragdaphus), though classed among 
the sheep, differs considerably from the typical form of the 
family, and is often placed in a sub-group. It belongs in the 
north of Africa, where it ranges high up among the Atlas 
mountains, as our mountain sheep do among the Rocky 
mountains and the Sierras. The Aoudad is noticeable for its 
curving, powerful horns and for the thick beard which hangs 
from its neck to below the knee — almost to'the ground. 
