SLAJUMA.TWJRDS M A N IC A T O S .
HALMATURUS MANICATUS, Gouid.
Black-g*loved Wallaby.
Spec. Char.— Halm, obscure griseus ; veliere apud partes inferiores pallidiore et flavescente¡ capite saprà fuliginoso, occipite
necnon auribus externe nigris ¡ atraque gena linea flavescente notata ; tarsis antipedibusqueflavescentibus, antrorsùm
nigris ; cauda nigrà ad basin grísea.
Descr.—General colour o f the upper surface o f the body deep grey, produced by the admixture o f black and white, the
hairs being black at the tip, and annulated with white near the tip ; sides and under surface o f the body paler
grey, tinted with buff-yellow ; this yellow tint is almost pure on the abdomen between the hind legs, on the feet
and inner side o f the ears : the upper surface o f the head and muzzle are o f a soot-like colour, and the occiput
and back o f the ears, as well as the apical portion in front, are pure black ; a yellowish white line is observable
on each sido o f the muzzle, commencing at the tip, and running backwards beneath the eye ; the fore half o f the
hands and feet are pure black, appearing as if they had been dipped in ink or some other black liquid, the black
not blending, as usual, with the pale colour o f the hind part o f the feet, but terminating in an abrupt line ; the
greater portion o f the tail (which is well clothed with harsh hairs) is o f the same black colour ; at the base,
however, it is coloured as the body ; and on the upper surface, for a considerable distance from the base, the
black hairs are more or less annulated with whitish, producing a grizzled appearance ; on the chin is a small
black patch.
Female,
feet, inches.
Length from the nose to the extremity of the tail . . . . . . . 5 o
,, of t a i l .................................................................................................2 3
„ ,, tarsus and toes, including the-nail.......................... 8-S-
,, „ arm and hand, including the n a i ls ............................ 5
„ „ face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear . . . 5£
,, ,, e a r ................................................................................ 3'
Halmaturus manicatus, Gould in Proc. o f Zool. Soc. for Oct. 13, 1840.
T his beautiful and singularly marked Wallaby is a native o f Swan River, where it would appear to be common, since
the rugs usually slept upon by persons who lead a bush-life in Australia are frequently made o f its skins. My own specimen,
however, is, I believe, the only one that has yet been sent to Europe in a perfect state, although at least forty
skins without the head and legs have come under my notice.
The following brief account o f this animal has been forwarded to me by Mr. Gilbert, and is, I regret to say, all I have
to communicate respecting i t :—
Found and equally abundant in all parts of the colony of Swan River: generally inhabiting scrubby places: may occasionally
be seen feeding on the open plains, but always takes to the scrub again when hunted; it runs very fast.”
In size it nearly equals Halmaturus ulabatus and Halmaturus Parryi, to the latter o f which it assimilates in many of its
characters.