43 
The kangaroos inhabit the continent of Australia, as well 
as Tasmania and other of the adjacent islands ; they, in com¬ 
mon with nearly the whole fauna of the Australian region, 
belong to the order of Marsupialia. 
These animals derive their name from a pouch or bag situ¬ 
ated on the lower part of the abdomen in the female, and 
containing the teats. The young animal being born—so to 
speak—prematurely, is in an undeveloped condition, and is 
at once placed by the mother in this pouch, where it attaches 
itself to a nipple and remains for some weeks until it has 
attained a weight of several pounds, when it gradually begins 
to come forth. It does not permanently leave the bag until it 
has grown so large as to be of an inconvenient size for the 
mother to carry about. The order is a large one, containing 
nine-tenths of the fauna of the Australian region, and includ¬ 
ing the opossums of America. It presents a striking variety of 
habits and adaptations of form among its members; many of 
the other mammalian orders being represented by marsupial 
forms, which agree, more or less perfectly, with them in habits. 
The kangaroos fill a number of places in the economy of 
their native region—there being Brush Kangaroos, Rock 
Kangaroos, and Tree Kangaroos, all of which are equally at 
home in the surroundings indicated by their respective names. 
The wallabys are a sub-group of kangaroos, differing slightly 
in structure. 
The Rufous Rat Kangaroo (.Hypsiprymnus rufescens) is 
a small member of the family from New South Wales. 
All of the kangaroos are strictly herbivorous in diet; they 
are hardy, breed readily, and might be acclimated in parks in 
the warmer temperate parts of the United States, with little 
difficulty. 
The Aoudad (Ovis tragelaphus), though classed among 
the sheep, differs considerably from the typical form of the 
family, and is often placed in a sub-group. It belongs in the 
north of Africa, where it ranges high up among the Atlas 
mountains, just as our Mountain Sheep (Ovis montana) does 
among the Rocky mountains and the Sierras. The Aoudad 
is noticeable for its curving, powerful horns and for the thick 
beard which hangs from its neck to below the knee—almost to 
the ground. 
