[The Voyage Of Governor Phillip To Botany Bay by Arthur Phillip]@TWC D-Link bookThe Voyage Of Governor Phillip To Botany Bay CHAPTER XV 18/18
Birds of the Cassowary or Emu kind have very frequently been seen; but they are so shy, and run so swiftly, that only one has yet been killed.
That bird was shot near the camp, while Governor Phillip was absent on his first expedition to Broken Bay, and was thought by him to differ materially both from the ostrich and cassowary; the skin was sent over, but at the time when this sheet was printed off, had not been stuffed, or put into form.
Should it, on examination, exhibit any remarkable peculiarities, we shall endeavour to obtain a description of it, to subjoin at the conclusion of this volume. * * * * * Since stating the dimensions of the kanguroo, in page 106, Lord Sydney has received from Governor Phillip, a male of a much larger size, which measures as follows. f.
in. Length from the point of the nose to the end of the tail, 8 5 Length of the tail, 3 1 -- head, 0 11 -- fore legs, 2 0 -- hind legs 3 7 Circumference of the fore part by the legs, 1 9 -- -- lower parts -- 4 5 Round the thicker part of the tail, which gradually tapers to the end.
1 1 The above is the largest kanguroo that has yet been seen, and there is every reason to believe that even this had not nearly attained its full growth. Lieutenant Shortland describes them as feeding in herds of about thirty or forty, and assures us, that one is always observed to be apparently upon the watch, at a distance from the rest..
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