84 
Quadrupeds 
for a part of the tree, or for a fruit of uncommon size 
suspended from its branches/' At the approach of even- 
ing, however, a very different scene presents itself. One 
by one these supposed fruits are seen to quit their hold 
upon the branches, and sail away to the plantations 
of various kinds, to which they do incalculable mischief 
by devouring every fruit that comes in their way. 
§ IV. The Marsupialia, or Pouch-bearing Animals. 
THE KANGAROO. (Macropus giganteus.) 
This remarkable animal was first discovered by the cele- 
brated Captain Cook, in Kew /Iolland : and as it was 
the only quadruped discovered on the inland by the first 
settlers, they attempted to hunt it with greyhounds. 
The astonishing leaps it took, however, quite puzzled the 
colonists, who found it extremely difficult to catch. At 
first it was supposed that there was only one kind of 
Kangaroo, but now many species have been discovered, 
some of them not larger than a rat, and others as big as 
a calf. Kangaroos live in herds ; one, older and larger 
than the,*rest, appearing to act as a kind of king. The 
ears of the Kangaroo are large, and in almost constant 
motion ; it has a hare-lip, and a very small head. The 
