Sharp County record., 1880-04-29

eiobt months old and weigh about ten
mounds, and long afterward return to
t ON appearance of danger. When the
mother is hard pressed by an enemy
in a chase she throws the young one
out of the pouch, who thereby makes
its escape.
There are kangaroo-dOgs, very swift
and strong, especially adapted to hunt,
inc the kangaroo; but no experienced
dog will tackle one of them without
somebody to back him. They jump
about fifteen feet at time, usually, but
sometimes twenty or more, and their
swiftness, is prodigious. Nothing can
apparently overtakc themin fair race,
and the usual way is to practically sur
round them. When hard pressed they
place their back to tree for the light;
or, in preference, they always strike for
the water, if there is any near They
try to seize their enemy with the fore
paws, and then rip it from top to bot
tom with the middle claws OF their hind
feet, which are very sharp. If they are
in the water they try to hold their ene-
nv under it till he is drowned. They
will always leave dog to attack a ma1.
At o'clock this morning, ten men
(including myself started on horse
back, with four dogs, on a chase. All
were experienced in the business ex-
cent a Young Englishman and myself.
We took no firearms, "a large stick be-
ing the only weapon to be used: We
had no difficulty in finding the animals.
1t was disdained to avoid such fences as
we found, and we jumped several Of a
height of four to five feet; always ap-
preaching them on a full run. We di-
vided the party, half going to each side
of a partly open plain. soon saw
large kangaroo and two small ones
coming toward our party. We waited
till they were near enough to see us,
when they made right angle, and
went off at an astonishing pace, in
Jumps of fifteen to twenty feet in length,
going from eight to ten feet in the
air at each jump. We "went for the
big one, but he quickly got beyond our
sight, the three having already dis
tanced the dogs. The kangaroo-dogs
hunt by sight, like the greyhound.
These three were all lost, we learned
as we met at the point agreed upon.
We next surrounded another large
tract of forest-plain and meadow, this
time dividing the dogs. In a few mo-
ments a hundred or more kangaroo
came bounding toward the party with
me. The dog with me started for them,
and all the dogs and men were at once
in pursuit. The kangaroos divided into
several parties-each dog selecting
one to follow, and each man following
some one of the dogs. My dog went
for a boomer, and l also. in company
with two others of the party. The
boomer stood up, took look at us, and
then flew. We followed him amongst
the trees and branches, jumping
logs and debris all kinds, and
across plains at fearful rate. The
horses needed no urging; their blood
was up now. The dog Laid to it, but
made no sound. When he would get
near the kangaroo, the animal would
make a jump at right angles and change
his course, whilst the dog would shoot
on distance before he could turn.
After run of this kind for some dis
tance, the kangaroo started fora swamp.
After reaching that, and going in a dis
tance, he turned his face toward us,
standing up on his hind paws to a
height of seven feet, and prepared for
battle. The dog went for him, and the
fight commenced. The dog succeeded
in getting hold of his tail, and was car
ried in the air some distance by repeat
ed jumps. The dog then lost his hold,
and was seized and put under the water.
Owing to my having the best horse, /
was first to come to the dogs aid. /
was warned by shouts not to approach
the animal, but disregarded them, and
showed myself good kangaroo-hunter
The animal proved to be eight feet
long. The rest of the party killed two
smaller ones, and later in the day, at
another chase, another large one was
killed. The females don't fight, but
run so swiftly that they are rarely over
taken.
Getting to the Rear.