iinet

ONYCHOGALEA LUNAT

Lunated Nail-tailed K

A, Gouin
angaroo.

Macropus lunatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 93.—Gr
Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm.., vol. j

ay, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus.,
> Bo 7).

p. 88.

ee

WueEn writing upon the Birds of Australia I frequently had occasion to

ame form represent each other
nent; and that a similar law of representation exists among the Mammals

preceding species, which, although most nearly allied

allude to the very remarkable
Ou Opposite parts of the conti-
, IS evidenced by the present and
» Inhabit portions of the country
ant period was probably the case.
approach each other in the interior of the ¢

manner in which different species of the s

as widely apart as if

seas had flowed between, as at some dist We have no evidence that they
ountry, as neither of them haye

yet been discovered within the
limits of the intervening colony of South Australia ; consequently the

y must be regarded as beautiful repre-
sentatives of each other in the respective countries they inhabit.

Although assimilating in form and markings to the Onychogalea frenata, the present

species is certainly
less ornamental, and is also much smaller in all its dimensions. The habits

and economy of the two species
shyness and timidity, and seek safety in flight upon
t in a state of nature myself, but Mr. Gilbert’s notes
inform me that “the Waurong,” by which name it is known to the natives, «

are very similar; both exhibit a remarkable degree of
the slightest alarm. I had no opportunity of observing i
is found in the gum forests

lad 1n s p) s 9 €

of the interior of Western Australia, where there are patches of tl

slightest alarm imme-
diately betakes itself to the shelter of the thick scrub; the dogs sometimes succeed in driving it out to the
open spots, when, like the Kangaroo rats, it runs to the nearest hollow log, and is then easily captured. I
remarked, that when sitting quietly cleaning itself, there was a constant twitching of the tail in an upward
direction ; an action which I have never seen performed by any other Kangaroo. I was not sufficiently near
to ascertain whether this motion of the tail had any connection with the claw or nail at its extremity, but I
think it not improbable. The Waurong makes no nest, but forms a hollow in the soft ground beneath a
thick brush in which it lies during the heat of the day.”

Fur soft and of moderate length; general tint ashy grey, finely pencilled with dusky and yellowish white ;
back of the neck and shoulders vinous rust-colour; a short distance behind the base of the fore-leg a
distinct curved white mark ; under surface of the body pale grey, the hairs tipped with dirty white; on the
sides of the body a faint rusty tint, more distinct in some specimens than in others; around the eye a ring
of pale pee colour, and the muzzle suffused with the same tint; ear clothed wath long ite hairs eatin
and externally with very minute dusky hairs finely freckled with yellowish white; on ine hinder half tne
hairs are longer and almost white, at the apex a delicate fringe of blackish bans fore-feet in sone a
mens brown, in others dirty white; tarsi chiefly dirty white, but the sides of the toes suliused with pale
brown; tail clothed for the most part with short adpressed on having a general oie aes oe
upper surface the hairs are somewhat lengthened, and o the apical portion es - a poe = nee
is usually blackish ; at the tip of the tail is a small conical horny appendage like a nail, of about an eig

of an inch in length.

Male.
ft. in,
1 8
Length from the nose to the root of the tail ; -
Pe Olmuaentarl ee ; 7
; : ae .
, tarsus and toes including the nails f .
ee : : . . . ce ¢ a
» ,, arm and hand including the nails . .. - 5 :
face fre > tl > nose to the base of the ear .
eS ,, face from the tip of the ;
ar
a? 9

7 f QC a ye . ee o a]
ill other Kangaroos lose the delicate tints of their colouring 01
¢ 5

It is to be regretted that this as well as ecimens could scarcely

1 > fuseum and recent sp
exposure to light; so much so in the present instance, that Museum <
be considered as identical.
ay ° ral size.
The Plate represents the two sexes rather under the nature