Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-08
The Kangaroo.

When born, the young is not more
than an inch long In the largest kan
garoo. II IL blind and hairless, and the
legs are all nearly the same length. The
nails are just perccptible; but there Is
nothing to Indicate the extraordinary
development Of the hind legs and middle
great toe so characteristic of the adult.
For some months at least the pouch Is
the place of refuge for the young. which
enters IT head-foremost, turns a complete
sonersatlt, and brings the nose and all
thc toes IN 4 bunch 10 the opening. when
IN TINS position reminding one forcibly of
u bernit-crab. The mother eyinces The
utmost solicitudc for the safety Of her
young, and when hunted and burdcned
with her charge will allow the dogs TO
press her very closely; but nj the last
moment ElIe will seize the Young with
her fore paws, draw IL from the pouch.
and throw IL aside casually 10 be killed
ht once by her pursucrsl. to enable her
to gain place of refuge The lciping
powers of the great kangaroo when In
iull career are most remarkable. A
series of intervals between the imprc4.
slons OF the hind feet on damp sand were
measured, and gave an average OF more
Than twenty feet for the stride. and in
TINS instance the kangaroo went clear
hHAJ YIN ~ 'buglf DI Tic b'hL uDEH.
Much misapprchcnsion exists as 20 the
use of the heavy tail; and even colonists,
who must be quite familiar with the
animals, will persistently assert that il is
used n an organ Of progression, and is a
great help IN the leap. by the arrange
mcnt OF its muscles the tail il, however,
UNITED for any such purpose, and could
not possibly be converted into lever 10
act in concert with the legs. In two
positions the tail appears to lend some
support; that il. when the animal Is sit
ting on its launches, and when feeding;
and in one very singular position the tail
becomes an important instrument in sup
porting the body, which may OCCASION
ally he observed in confinement. but Is
often presented TO the kangaroo-sialker.
/ Ihe animal raises itself on the extreme
ends of the great nails on the hind feet ,
and stificns its tail AZ a third support
when IL is seen TO stand upon vcritahle
tripod. and il thus enabled to command
a wide field Of view. The attitude j.
most grotesque. and some Individual.
when standing thus must be nearly
seven feet high.
The tail Of this curious animal also
comes into play in balancing the body
aud bringing il to the necessary angle for
the point of departure Of each successive
leap, and it no doubt facilitates those
sharp doubles" by which the kangaroo
astonishe' and contounds the most active
dogs. Kangaroos swim well: and on
one occasion the writer saw a female
crossing u small creek with a young one.
which she held between her fore limbs
with its head just above water. and on
landing close TO the observers place Of
conccalment she placed il the ground and
I il plunged into the pouch.
The smaller species Of kangaroo are AS
much nocturnal as diurnal, and may be
seen in open forest land in numbers on
moonlight nights. They are conscious
Of the security afforded them by dark
ness, for they will dash across clearing
md stop just within cover Of scrub or
/ thick bush. and allow ono to approach
within few feet without moving away.
/ II "A stone is thrown into the place where
they were heard to stop. they dash of
and it is perceived at once how near
[ thcy were; while in daylight il might
not have been possible Ia come within a
f hundh Cd yards Of them.