HALMATOKIU3 AG IL IS , Gmld.
J.Umdcl caMlZliu}ijta-l cfcL & ¿¡fife
HALMATURUS AGILIS, Gould.
Agile Wallaby.
H e a d a n d F o r e P a r t o f t h e B o d y , o f t h e n a t u r a l s i z e .
I t will be seen that Mr. Richter has indulged in a little variation as regards the
opposite illustration; the animal, however, is faithfully portrayed, both as regards its
form and colouring and the texture of the short adpressed hair which covers its body.
All these points are seen to much greater advantage than in the Jerboa-like reduced figures
on the next Plate: it is, indeed, impossible to do justice to the appearance of these
animals in such small representations of them.
It will be seen that the fiill-sized head and fore quarters are more darkly coloured than
the reduced figures; but as such differences really-exist in the various specimens, no apology
is necessary for the seeming discrepancy. The time, we may suppose, is not far distant
when the northern part of the great southern continent will be peopled by our enterprising
settlers. That country contains the bones of my worthy assistant Gilbert, who
fell a sacrifice to the treachery of the natives, while arduously prosecuting his researches
for the advancement of science and the furtherance of the present work. It is well
known that he was in company with the celebrated explorer Dr. Leichardt, who, in like
manner, found a resting-place in that terra incognita; but it is still unknown in what
precise locality his fate was sealed. This country of the Kangaroos is second to none
in the sacrifice of valuable lives in the various attempts which have been made to unfold
the hidden recesses of its treasures.