rock-wallaby

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


the popular name for anyanimal of the genus Petrogale (q.v.). There are sixspecies – – Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby – – Petrogale penicillata, Gray.

♣ Little R. – W. – – P. concinna, Gould.

♣ Plain-coloured R. – W. – – P. inornata, Gould.

♣ Rock-W., or West-Australian R. – W. – – P. lateralis, Gould.

♣ Short-eared R. – W. – – P. brachyotis, Gould.

♣ Yellow-footed R. – W. – – P. xanthopus, Gray.

See wallaby.

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. viii. p. 58:

«A light, active chap, spinning over the stones like a rockwallaby.»

1888. Rolf Boldrewood, `Robbery under Arms,' p. 119:

«They rode and rode, but Warrigal was gone like a rockwallaby.»

1894. R. Lydekker, `Marsupialia,' p. 43:

«The Rock-Wallabies are confined to the mainland of Australia,on which they are generally distributed, but are unknown inTasmania. Although closely allied to the true Wallabies, theirhabits are markedly distinct, the Rock-Wallabies frequentingrugged, rocky districts, instead of the open plains.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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