8 
were yarded and slaughtered in the one day. TIiis fact is stated just 
to show that it is only tlirongli the animals having increased to exces¬ 
sive nnnibei’S thattlusappareutly wanton slaughter is undertaken. The 
peculiar formation of tlic lower incisor teeth of all tlie macropodidGS is 
such that they can hold their own in the struggle for existence against 
any domestic animal. Tliese teeth are but two in number, as opposed 
to six in the upper jaw, but their peculiar conformation is such that 
not only can they gnizc as can other animals, hut the two lower teeth, 
which arc long and curved, can he opened and closed scissors-Iilce, and 
thus the shortest and choicest giusses and herbs be cut off and eaten. 
The flesh of the kangaroo is sometimes eaten, and from the tail is 
made an excellent soup. 
On the fore feet of the macropodidm there are always five woll- 
dovolopcd toes, each of wliich is armed with a large and strong nail, 
curved; the two outer toes arc the shoi*test and the central one the 
longest. The hind feet are furnished with one very large central toe, 
and an outer one, which Ls shorter and smaller, but like the first, 
armed with a largo solid nail slightly curved. On the inner side of 
the foot are two small slender toes, united in one common integument, 
and liaving the appeamnee of a single too ; the nails, however, are 
separate, of very small size and hollow beneath. The use of these small 
nails is to cleanse the fur flora vermin, such as ticks, which abound 
in tl|e grassy and Rcrul)hy country. The tarsus underneatli is hairless, 
hut is covered with minute hardened tubercles, wliich are most dis¬ 
tinctly developed and hardened in those species wliose hahihit is among 
rocky land. In color the g:out kangaroos are generally gniyish- 
hrown, hut one species ])eculiar to the interior plains is of a (lecided 
red Ime, more particuhirly so in the males. This species {Macropua 
rtifus) attains to the largest size of any. 
A peculiarity in the habit of all the kangaroo family which deserves 
mention, as it to a great extent accounts for the lapid increase of the 
animals when their natur.il enemies the dingo and tlie eagles wore 
extirpated, is that w'hen hard pressed by any jiursuor the doe will 
eject the helpless young one from its pouch. Thus lightened, she is 
better able to escape from lier pursuer, ajul the dog or eagle in pursuit 
immediately seizes the young one, and satisfies his api)etite on it. A 
doe kangaroo unencumbered by young is very fleet, and is seldom 
cauglit l)y the native dog, who in most cases ceases to follow when he 
finds no young is ejected, 
THE BRUSH KAJfGAROOS OR WALLABIES (genus UalmatuH), 
The immigrant will not have been long in the country districts of 
tlie colony before he will have seen numbers of what appear to be 
small kangaroos ; he will have observed them suddenly hopping out 
fi-om a tussock of long gi-ass, or from under some husliy shrub, or, 
perhaps, feeding in hundreds by the side of a }>atch of dense scrub, 
just about the time of sunset. These all come under the designation of 
wallabies, brush kangaroos, and pademelons. There are about a score 
of species of tliera, varying in size from lOlbs. iu weight up to 50lbs. 
