The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-01-06

MADE Up PROM rHE BEST CLIPPINGS

AAOB U FkOA TIE oESA O@AEN NN1
The Kangaroo.
Harper's Yonng People.
In the large island OF Australia
an island so vast "a 70 be ranked
as . continens-nature has pro-
duced q singular menagerie.
The first discovsrers of this coun
try must have stared in amSzsmene
st the strange sights which met
their syes. Theirs were wilder
uesses of luxuriant and curious
vegetable growths, Inhabited by
large quadrupeds which appeared
as bipeds; queer little beasts with
bills like q duck, ostrlches covered
with hair instead OF feathers, and
Iegious of odd birds, while the
whole woods were noisy with the
screeching and prating of thous-
snds Of 1aroquets and cockatoos-
The largest and oldest Austria
Ian quadrupeds is the kangaroo, q
member OF that strange family, the
Marsh pialia, which are provided
with y porch, or bag, IN which
they carry their little ones until
they are strong enough to scam
per about a1d take care of them
selves.
The delicately formed head OF
this strange creature, and its short
fore-Iegs, are out of all proportion
Co the lower part of its body, which
is furnished with a very long tai,
and It's hind legs, which are very
strong. 1t stands erect a. tai. as =
man, and moves by a succession Of
rapid jumps, propelled by its hind
feet, its fore paws meanwhile being
folded across its breast. A large
Kangaroo will weigh fully two hun
dred pounds, anu will cover as
much as sixteen feet at one Jump.
The body OF this beast is covered
with thick, soft, woOily fur, OF
grayish brown color. 1t is very
harmless and inofensive, and it is a
very pretty sight To see a little
group of kangaroos feeling quiet
II in a forest clearing. Their diet
ia entirely vegetable. They nibbls
grass or leaves, or eat certain kinds
OF roots. the stout, long claws OF
their hind-fest serving them ~
convenient pickaxs ito dig with.
The kangaroo ID = very tender
and atfec5ionate mother. When
the baby is born it is the most
helpless creature inagiD able, blind,
and not much bigger than a new
born kitten. But the mother shs
lifts it carefully with her lips,
aud gently deposits it in her
pocket, where it cuddles down and
begins to grow. This pocket il its
home for six or seven months, IN
ill it becomes strong and wise
enough to fight its own battles in
the woodland world. While living
in its mothers pocket it is very
lively. 1t is very funny to see a
little head emerging all ola sudden
from the soft fur OF the mother,
bright eyes pespiug about to see
what Ii going on in the GU tsIde
world; or perhaps nothing is visi-
Die but little tail wagging con
tsntedly, while its baby owner is hid
den from sight.
The largest kaugaroos are called
menuahs or boomers by the Aus
tralian natives, and the flesh il con
sidered a great delicacy, in flavor
something like young venison-
For this reason these harmless
creatures are hunted and killed in
large numbers. They are very shy,
and not very easy to catch; bns the
cunning bushmsn hide themselves
in the thicket, aud when their IN
suspecting prey approaches, they
hurl lance into its body. The
wounded kangaroo springs of with
tremendous leaps, but soon be-
comes exhausted, and falls on the
turf.
If brought to bay, this gentle
beast will defend itself vigorously. !
With its back planted firmly |
against a tree, it has been known |
to keep of an army of dogs for !
hours, by dealing them terrible |
blows with it's strong hind-feet, IN
til the arrival OF the hunter with !
his gun puts an end To the contest |
At other times the kangaroo, being |
an expert swimmer, will rush into |
the water. and if 3 venturesome |
dog dares to follow, it will seize |
MIN, aud hold his head under wa |
ter till he is drowned.
Kangaroes are often brought TO /
geological gardens and are con-
tented in captivity, so long as they /
have plenty of corn, roots, and /