MACROPUS OCYDROMUS, Goud.

West-Australian Great Kangaroo.

Macropus ocydromus, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. x. p. 1.—Gray, List of Spec. of Mamm. in Coll.
Brit. Mus., p. 86.

Yoon-gur, the male: Work, the female: of the Aborigines of Western Australia.

 

Since my account of the Great Grey Kangaroo (Macropus major) was printed, some additional examples
of the West-Australian animal, to which I had assigned the specific term ocydromus, have reached this
country; a careful and accurate comparison of which induces the belief that my original opinion of its being
a distinct species is really correct, and that I was quite right in conferring upon it a distinctive appellation.

A very young individual which I now possess has not only a thicker and more woolly fur than the young
of Macropus major, but has a much more vinaceous colour pervading the whole of the body; and I find
that this peculiar woolly texture as well as the colour are retained to the extreme adult age, and that the
cheeks are of a nearly uniform vinous brown, while the cheeks of JZ. major are brown with a stripe of white.
The bases of the ears m ocydromus are of a rich hair-brown for the extent of about an inch, when that
colour abruptly terminates, and the remainder of the outside of the ear is white ; the interior is also white,
and has the basal portion thickly clothed with long white hairs,—a style of colouring, so far as regards the
outer part of the ears, which is never found in specimens of the true MJacropus major; there is also a
lesser amount of white about the under surface of the body of ocydromus than in that of major, the vinous
tint pervading the lower part of the chest and a great part of the abdomen.

That a great similarity exists in the anatomy of the two animals there can be no doubt; but the same
may be said with regard to many other quadrupeds and birds which are considered distinct species. It
must be recollected that the Western and Eastern Australian species, both of quadrupeds and birds, differ
in almost every instance, and that but few cases occur of a species ranging across the entire continent—an
extent of three thousand miles, more or less. Time, and a greater acquaintance with the mammals of
Australia, will be necessary before we can say with certainty over what portion of the country this species
may range.

Upon looking over my MSS. of West-Australian animals, I find a note from the pen of the late Mr. Gilbert,
from which I learn that not only had he observed the difference in the colouring of the animals there
found, but he had noticed that a still darker one inhabits the brushes, and that this darker-coloured
animal has a more woolly coat. ‘This may be the same as the animal I have called Macropus melanops,
and is probably distinct from both the others, although I have placed that name as a synonym of JZ major.

The following is Mr. Gilbert’s note above referred to :—

“« Macropus ocydromus.—Y ou will receive herewith a very large male and two mature females, from dif-
ferent localities ; the two latter showing the extremes of the dark and light variations of colouring. The
largest Kangaroo yet killed in the colony (the weight of which is well authenticated) was shot on the
Canning by Mr. Phillips, the Resident at King George’s Sound ; it was ascertained to weigh 180 lbs., its
unusual size having induced that gentleman to weigh it before any part was removed.”

The male has the face and forehead dull cinnamon-brown, becoming darker over the nose and forehead ;
cheeks without a white stripe; upper lip and chin beset with a number of long and short fine black hairs,
those on the edge of the upper lip being rigid; base of the ears and occiput dark vinous brown, the
remainder of the ears clothed externally with short grizzled hairs, the tips of which are white, and the base
brown, offering a strong contrast to the dark colouring of the lower part of the ear ; internally the ears are
clothed with long white hairs; the vinous brown colouring of the occiput is continued down the back of
the neck and over the middle of the back, becoming lighter towards the tail; throat, fore part of the neck,
and chest brownish white; sides of the body, flanks, and under surface dull cinnamon-brown ; arms and
hands grizzled brown, externally becoming lighter on the inner surface and darker towards the extremities ;
thighs, legs, and feet similar; a deep vinous brown mark extends along the ridge of the tail, gradually
passing into black at the tip, the remainder of the tail cinnamon-brown.

The female is similar in colour, but lighter in every part.

The accompanying Plates represent the heads of an adult male and female of the size of life, and reduced
figures of the entire animals.