233 
Mode of Generation of the Kangaroo . 
so as to admit of its moving easily in that direction ; add to 
this the action of opening the mouth of the false belly, will 
bring down the skin, and allow the external orifice of the va- 
gina to be thrown still further out, so as to project more di- 
rectly over the mouth of the false belly in which the foetus is 
to be deposited. 
It is to be observed, that if the parts in their natural state 
are fitted for such an action, they will be still more so at the 
period in which it is to be performed ; since in all animals, at 
that particular time, there are changes going on to facilitate 
the expulsion of the young in the way most favourable for its 
preservation. 
The size of th^ foetus at the time it leaves the uterus, I be- 
lieve, is not ascertained ; but it has been found in the false belly 
attached to the nipple not more than an inch and a quarter in 
length, and 31 grains in weight, from a mother weighing 56 
pounds. In this instance the nipple was so short a way in the 
mouth that it readily dropped out, we must therefore conclude 
that it had been very recently attached to it. 
The foetus at this period had no navel string, nor any re- 
mains of there ever having been one ; it could not be said to 
be perfectly formed, but those parts which fit it to lay hold of 
the nipple were more so than the rest of the body. The 
mouth was a round hole, just large enough to receive the 
point of the nipple ; the two fore-paws, when compared with 
the rest of the body, were large and strong, the little claws ex- 
tremely distinct; while the hind legs, which are afterwards to 
be so very large, were both shorter and smaller than the fore 
ones.* 
* Since writing the above, I have received from Mr, Lang, in the month of March, 
