nd is so flexible as to admit of being turned by the animal
nearly quite round the head, doubtless for the purpose of informing the
creature of the approach of its enemies, as it is of a timid nature, and
poorly furnished with means of defence; though when compelled to resist, it
tears furiously with its forepaws, and strikes forward very hard with
its hind legs. Notwithstanding its unfavourable conformation for such a
purpose, its swims strongly; but never takes to the water unless so hard
pressed by its pursuers as to be left without all other refuge. The noise
they make is a faint bleat, querulous, but not easy to describe. They are
sociable animals and unite in droves, sometimes to the number of fifty
or sixty together; when they are seen playful and feeding on grass, which
alone forms their food. At such time they move gently about like all other
quadrupeds, on all fours; but at the slightest noise they spring up on
their hind legs and sit erect, listening to what it may proceed from, and
if it increases they bound off on those legs only, the fore ones at the
same time being carried close to the breast like the paws of a monkey;
and the tail stretched out, acts as a rudder on a ship. In drinking, the
kangaroo laps. It is remarkable that they are never found in a fat state,
being invariably lean. Of the flesh we always eat with avidity, but in
Europe it would not be reckoned a delicacy. A rank flavour forms the
principal objection to it. The tail is accounted the most delicious part,
when stewed.

Hitherto I have spoken only of the large, or grey kangaroo, to which
the natives give the name of 'patagaran'.* But there are (besides the
kangaroo-rat) two other sorts. One of them we called the red kangaroo,
from the colour of its fur, which is like that of a hare, and sometimes is
mingled with a large portion of black: the natives call it 'bagaray'. It
rarely attains to more than forty pounds weight. The third sort is
very rare, and in the formation of its head resembles the opossum. The
kangaroo-rat is a small animal, never reaching, at its utmost growth, more
than fourteen or fifteen pounds, and its usual size is not above seven
or eight pounds. It joins to the head and bristles of a rat the leading
distinctions of a kangaroo, by running when pursued on its hind legs only,
and the female having a pouch. Unlike the kangaroo, who appears to have no
fixed place of residence, this little animal constructs for itself a
nest