
GREAT RED KANGAROO. 43 
when adult, has the red and white more blended into each other ; 
the blue-grey, which distinguishes the female, being rarely if ever 
erceptible ; hence, has arisen the names of red buck and blue doe 
or the two sexes respectively. The colouring of the fur cannot be 
preserved after death it exposed to light. Such a difference is pro- 
duced that the living animal and the mounted specimen might be 
taken for two different species. The general tint of the female is 
rather paler, the sandy red on the sides of the body being less dis- 
tinct. She is particularly attractive from her graceful, slender and 
elegant form, and from the snowy whiteness of her legs and under 
surface contrasted with the blue-grey tint of her sides and back, 
The head and shoulders are of a paler grey. She differs from the 
male in having a distinct broad white mark extending from the angle 
of the mouth backwards under the eye, and in having the under 
parts of the body and limbs pure white. The female is called the 
flying doe, from her extreme fleetness, for which her whole structure 
is admirably adapted. Under favourable circumstances she will out- 
strip the fastest dogs. Occasionally, however, both sexes are run 
successfully, either from the chase being over soft mouldy soil, or 
from the female being encumbered by a Taree and heavy young one, 
which she has not been able to disengage from the pouch, for she 
always drops the young one, if possible, when hard pressed. 
Where found.—It is found in eastern, south-eastern and south 
Australia. In New South Wales it frequents the banks of the 
Murrumbidgee and Darling, also the plains bordering the Namoi. 
It is generally dispersed over the great river basin of Australia and 
its eastern parts. It prefers the hard, red stony ridges clothed with 
box, and open plains, in the midst of which it may frequently be 
seen in the daytime basking in the sun. Two of Mr. Gould’s speci- 
mens were obtained in South Australia, and the others on the plains 
bordering the Namoi. Having observed a pair sheltering themselves 
from the heat of the sun, under a group eb myalls near the Namoi, 
he led’a fine dog to within 70 yards of them without being per- 
ceived ; the dog was so quickly at the heels of the one he ran after, 
which was carrying a large young one, that her escape was im- 
possible. The large male he secured, which weighed above 200lbs., 
was caught while the naturalist was making a forced march between 
the Murray and Adelaide, at a time when his provisions were ex- 
hausted. The flesh of this fine kangaroo sustained him and his 
party for four days. In Victoria the red kangaroo is only found 
towards thie warmer northern boundary of the colony, where it 
occurs in immense numbers. It is met with near Swan Hill, 
Victoria. ‘The extensive poisoning of the dingoes by strychnine has 
tended of late years to increase very greatly the number of the plant- 
eating animals, Sturt, when exploring the Murrumbidgee recorded 
in his journal : —‘* We saw several red kangaroos in the course of 
the day, and succeeded in killing one. It certainly is a beautiful 
animal, ranging the wilds in native freedom. ‘The female and the 
kid are of a light brown colour.” 
