Photo by Ottomar Anschütz, Berlin. Printed at Lyons, France.
THE GREAT KANGAROO LEAPING.
In the posture in which this animal is represented the extraordinary size and strength of the hind limbs and tail are displayed to the best advantage. Both features are connected with the animal's marvellous powers of leaping.
Of smaller members of the Kangaroo Family, there are some thirty distinct forms, popularly known in Australia as Wallabies, Wallaroos, Paddy-melons, Potoroos, Kangaroo-hares, Kangaroo-rats, etc. The wallabies, which represent the most important group with regard to their larger size and economic utility, number some fourteen or fifteen species, and are distinguished, with relation more especially to their habitats or peculiar structure, as Rock-, Brush-tail, and Spur-tail Wallabies, etc. Among the rock-wallabies the yellow-footed species from South Australia is undoubtedly one of the handsomest as well as the largest member of its group, the uniform grey characteristic of the majority of its members being in this instance represented by an elegantly striped and banded form, in which the several tints of brown, yellow, black, and white are pleasingly interblended. A very fine example of this wallaby was included in the valuable collection of animals, formerly at Windsor, recently presented to the Zoological Society by His Majesty King Edward, and is now on view at the Regent's Park. The successful stalking of rock-wallabies in their native fastnesses entails no mean amount of patience and agility. Although these animals are so abundant in favoured localities as to make hard-beaten tracks to and fro betwixt their rock-dwellings and their pasture-grounds, one may traverse the country in broad daylight without catching a glimpse of a single individual. One species, about the size of a large rabbit, is very plentiful among the rocky bastion-like hills that border the Ord River, which flows into Cambridge Gulf, in Western Australia. Efforts to stalk examples in broad daylight proved fruitless; but by sallying out a little before daybreak, so as to arrive at their feeding-grounds while the light was still dim, the writer succeeded in securing several specimens. Many of these rock-wallabies are notable for the length, fine texture, and pleasing tints of their fur, their skins on such account being highly esteemed for the composition of carriage-rugs and other furry articles.
Photo by D. Le Souef] [Melbourne.
TREE-KANGAROOS.
Examples acclimatised in the Melbourne Zoological Gardens.
Of the larger brush or scrub varieties, the species known as the Black Wallaby is the most familiar form. It is particularly abundant in the Southern Australian States, and also in Tasmania. Its flesh is excellent eating, and, dressed and served up in the orthodox manner of jugged hare, can scarcely be distinguished from that toothsome dish. Some of the smaller species, such as the hare- and rat-kangaroos or potoroos, are, as their names denote, of no larger dimensions than the familiar rodents from which they are popularly named. Several of these smaller species, including notably the potoroo, or kangaroo-rat of New South Wales, are addicted to paying marked attention to the settlers' gardens, and, being to a large extent root-feeders, have acquired a special predilection for the newly planted or more fully matured potato crops.