HALMATURUS UALABATUS.
Black Wallaby.
Kängurus Ualabatus, Less, et Garn. Zool. de la Coquille, tom. i. p. 161. pi. 7.
Macropus Ualabatus, Less. Man. de Mamm., p. 227.—Waterh. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Marsupialia, p. 219.
Kängurus Brunii, Desm. Ency. M6th. Mamm., p. 275.
Halmaturus'Lessonii, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist., -viol. i. new ser. p. 583.
----------------nemoralis, Wagn. in Schreb. Saug. Suppl., part 111-112. p. 114 (Waterhouse).
Macropus (Halmaturus) Ualabatus, Waterh. Nat^Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 136.
This well-marked species inhabits, with but few exceptions, all the thick brushes of New South Wales,
especially such as are wet or humid. I hunted it successfully at Illawarra, on the small islands at the mouth
of the Hunter, and on the Liverpool ranges. In the former localities it was frequently found in the wettest
places, either among the high grass and other dense vegetation, or among the thick mangroves, whose roots
are washed by each succeeding tide. The islands at the mouth of the Hunter, particularly Mosquito and
Ash Islands, are not unfrequently flooded to a great extent, yet it leaps through the shallow parts with
apparent enjoyment, and even crosses the river from one island to the other. On the Liverpool range it as
strictly keeps to such parts as are most humid—often near the crowns of mountains, which are frequently
enveloped in fogs and dews. Over what extent of country this species will be found to range, it is impossible
to say ; as yet, I have only observed it in the localities above mentioned,,; the dense brushes of the
Clarence, Manning, and, in fact, all the brushes from Western Port to Moreton Bay, are probably inhabited
by i%
Independently of its dark colouring, lengthened tail, and stiff wiry hair, it may be readily distinguished
from every other species by the jet-black spot immediately beneath the insertion of the arm. When fullf'
grown, this animal is about the size of H. Bennettii and H ruficollis.
Fur long, harsh to the touch; general colour blackish-brown, pencilled with a lighter hue; under surface
yellowish in some specimens, in others deep sandy- or rusty-red; ears clothed with dirty-white hairs
internally; a rusty patch surrounds their base, and is extended on the neck; cheeks pale brown, mingled
with dirty-white ; upper part of the muzzle and round the eye blackish; lips and chin whitish; wrists and
hand black ; immediately beneath the insertion of the fore-arm a jet-black patch; tarsi black; basal third
of the tail like the body, the remainder black.
Male,
feet, inches.
Length from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail . . . 4 4
„ of tail .............................................................................1 4
,, „ tarsus and toes,' including the nail ■>........................................... 8±-
„ „ arm and hand, including the n a i l s ............................................... Of
„ „ face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear. . . 4-f-
,, „ e a r ................................................................................................... 2-JThe
first Plate represents the head of the animal the size of life; the second, entire figures necessarily
much reduced.