Page:The mammals of Australia Gould vol 2.djvu/13

, Shaw.

Great Grey Kangaroo.

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reduced figures furnish but an inadequate idea of the size and facial expression of the larger species of Kangaroos, I have been constrained in many instances to publish double plates of these important Marsupials. The accompanying illustration will convey a just conception of the appearance of the animal at the moment of surprise, when it stands bolt upright on its hind legs, its huge tail completing the tripod which sustains its body. Twitching of the nose and the upcurling of the lips shown in the drawing are indications of anger often exhibited by these animals when their haunts are intruded upon. The hairy muffle, common to all the members of the restricted genus Macropus, is far better shown in the opposite Plate than it possibly could be in the reduced figures; and this forms an additional reason for giving the life-sized illustration.

A detailed account of the species will be found on the succeeding page.