The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-04-19
tCoMMUNICATED.
THE KANG AROo!

DO WE WANT IT?

As somebody has raised the question and
suggested tho idea Of introducing anthracite
coal into the markets of Australia. and in re-
turn bring back cargoes of KNngaroos, brief
description of this animal would not, perhaps,
seem amiss, since many Of the readers Of the
ADVOCATE have probably never had the plea.
sure of forming the acquaintance of q genuine
kangaroo.
This animal has been found only in that
portion of the globe known as New Holland
Like nearly all the quadrupeds Of Australia,
this one is marsupial-that is, like the opos.
sum Of our own favored country, nature has
provided It with pouch or pocket for carry
Ing, caring for and protecting its young du-
ring the helplessness of infancy. The mother
is very fond Of and devoted TO her young, in
the hour of danger laying down her own life
for their protection.
The kangaroo has many points af beauty |;
though, taken on the whole, it cannot be call
ed a handsome animal and, on account of its
size, II is not likely to ever become popular rs
household pet. The body Of full grown
kangaroo, in many cases, measures eight or
nine feet. When sitting up erect, n lavoritc
position with it, the outline presented is near
ly that of n monster chunk-bottle in other
words, the cube root OF the apex of the kang-
aroo can be multiplied into its base about IA
times, more or less. 1t also has a stout tail,
quite as long as its body, which in shape is
nearly that of a spiko.nail.
About the head it bears some facial rcsem-
Llance to the rat. Its hind legs are long,
strong and agile, but its two fore legs are so
short as to be Of practical utility only in the
various little acts of domestic economy.
Its locomotion is OF the frog type; but the
speed of the frog, even when forcibly remind
| cd that he is about to become the breakfast OF
black snake, can givo no adequate concep.
tion of the speed of the kangaroo. Says DIR.
Bingley, the distinguished naturalist, this
animal can jump 20 lect at a single leap and
the fleetest greyhound is forced to take a
shack seat when matched with the kanga-
roo as pedestrian. This extraordinary abll.
| i'y "to get up and get" is its main safeguard
| against its enemies, which every thinking
man will see at a glance is no insignificant
/ one. when, however, driven to bay, its chiel
weapons of c combat, like the mule, are It's hind
legs. These, armed with long nails, it uses
| against its assailant something after the
scientific manner of the exasperatod thomas
cat. When forced to "knock under" 1t al
ways dies game.
In its tastes the Kangaroo Is rigid vegeta
ran, is strictly temperate and 1t prefers t,
spend its hours Of case underground. 1t is by
no means a dangerous animal-when lei
alone, and would, no doubt, enjoy the climate
and the grandeur and solitude of the noun.
tains in this vicinity.
Such is the kangaroo. Now, 10 we want IT.
Are we willing to exchange coal forit? vii
1t pay to send a special Minister to Australi,
to negotiate for the kangaroo? In extreme
cases its flesh is good for food and no dOub
the subtle Yankee genius will discover hun
drcd and one uses for the hide. A couple o
cargoes turned loose on Ma uch Chunk noun
tain would add another charm to the ''Switz
crland," as summer resort; and there is n
earthly reason to doubt that the tail Of tn
kangaroo would make as good soup as that o
the OK. And again, perhaps 1t could be dc
mesticated and trained rs n means Of rap
transit among our mountains. DO we wan
the kangaroo? BEICKBAT.