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THE ROCK KANGAROO. 
which terminates that member, we arrive at the W hallabee, or Wallaby, as the word is 
sometimes spelled. 
The genus to which this animal belongs is easily distinguished from the genus Macropus, 
by reason of the muzzle being devoid of hair. This creature is not nearly so large as the com- 
mon or the woolly Kangaroo, being only four feet six inches in total length, of which measure- 
ment the tail occupies two feet. 
The fur of the Whallabee is rather long and coarse in texture, being decidedly harsh to 
the touch. The color is rather curious, being a darkish-brown washed with a warm rusty hue, 
and obscurely pencilled with whitish-gray. The whole of the under portions of the body are 
of a yellowish tint, and the feet and the wrists are quite black. The tail is also rather singular 
W HALL A B EE . — Halmaturus ualabatus. 
in its coloring, by which it is divided into three nearly equal portions. The dorsal third of 
the tail is of the same color as the back, but the remaining two-thirds change abruptly from 
brown to black. 
The animal is an inhabitant of New South Wales, and is of tolerably frequent occurrence 
in the neighborhood of Port Jackson. It is sometimes known by the name of the Aroe Kan- 
garoo. The singular word ualabatus has no particular meaning, being only the harsh Latinized 
form of the native name Whallabee. The genus embraces a considerable number of species, 
some twelve or thirteen being acknowledged to belong to it. 
One of the most singular of this singular group of animals is the Rock Kangaroo, which 
has derived its popular name from its rock-loving habits. 
In the Tree Kangaroo we have already seen a remarkable instance of unexpected powers, 
and the Rock Kangaroo will shortly be seen to be possessed of equal, if not of superior bodily 
prowess. The agility with which this animal traverses the dangerous precipices among which 
it lives is so very great, that when the creature is engaged in skipping about the craggy rocks 
that shroud its dwelling-place from too vigilant eyes, it bears so close a resemblance to a 
monkey in its movements, that it has, on many occasions, been mistaken for that active 
animal. Not only does it resemble the quadrumana in its marvellously easy manner of ascend- 
