IIENNETT8 KANGAROO. 
181 
Fur long; moderate as to texture: general colour very deep grey, 
slightly tinted with rufous on the back of the cars at the 
hose, and on the neck and shoulders; under parts grey-white; 
tail pale grey, black at the apex: the anterior half of the bind 
feet, the hands, and the apical half of the ear, externally, black: 
an indistinct whitish cheek mark : top of muzzle blackish. 
Inhabits Van Diemen’s Land. 
That the Macroptis Bennettii is u local variety only of the 
M. ruficolli* 1 now feel little doubt; it differs, however, in 
having the fur longer, of a much darker general hue, being 
considerably suffused with black in parts, and exhibiting very 
little of the red Lint which is so conspicuous in M. ntjtcollis. 
The “ Brush Kangaroo,” as this animal is called by the 
colonists, is a native of Van Diemen’s Land, where it is very 
abundant; “ its flesh,” Mr. Gould informs us, “ is generally 
eaten, and highly esteemed, and its skin forms a considerable 
article of commerce, being largely imported from Van Diemens 
Land into England for the manufacture of boots and shoes, 
besides being extensively used for the same purpose in the 
colony. It is universally dispersed over Van Diemen’s Land, 
whose dense and humid forests afford it a retreat so secure ns 
to preclude all chance of its extermination for centuries to 
come, although many thousands are killed annually. Adver- 
tisements may be frequently seen in Hobart Town newspapers, 
stating that three thousand skins are immediately wanted, and 
they are quickly supplied by the settlers, servants, and shep¬ 
herds at the out-stations. They are either captured by dogs, 
or by snares set in their runs ; the skins are generally Liken 
off on the spot, and are afterwards stretched on the ground to 
dry; they are then sold for fourpence or sixpence each, to 
persons who visit the stock-stations of the interior for the 
purpose of collecting them, and who retail them again in 
Hobart Town, or Launceston, to the advertiser or others, for 
colonial consumption or for exportation/* 
