The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-05
4 BABY KANaARocs DEBUT.
why the Happy Father stood Up o.
His Tail ard Rugged Himself

why the Happy Father stood Cp %
His Tail and Rugged Himself.
Apart from the fact that over three
thousand people went to the Zoo yes
terday-the first crowd that has beer
in the garden for six weoks--the rar
spectacle was seen OF five feet long
kangaroo standing bolt upright on
three feet of tail. A big section OF the
thtec thousand visitors hung around
the kangmroo department all afternoon
and watched this masculine specimen
of the Micropus Rufus disporting him
self. H mate. who Is not quite 80
tall rs he Is, tried the sants difficult
feat, but failed dismally.
The reason for this acrobatic per-
Torrance in the kangaroo quarters was
the advent into the light of baby
kangaroo. who. eighteen weeks ago.
came to bless this happy limber-legged
couple.
BY some curious natural provision
the mother kangaroo is provided with
an abdominal pouch. in which. until II
10 old enough to hop its way into
publicity, tho baby lodges warm and
snug. aud has Its meals served in its
own rooAl. For the past month this
young Micropus Rufus has been poking
its head out of the pouch. surveying
the limited world outside, and then
going back to its room.
The father. who knew that no had
an heir somewhere about the garden,
has been watching this performance OF
his offspring with great deal OF in.
terest. Imagine his delight yesterday
afternoon when the youth. now about
as big as cat jumped from his snug
quarters, pirouetted around on his fiexi.
Bile hind legs. and then Owed head
first back to his lodgings again. This
was the moment when the elder
kangaroo stood on his tail for very JOY.
He stretched out his short front legs az
though to embrace the little stranger
The youngster apparently didn't care
for the paternal hug Mother kangaroo
didn't seem to like It either. and she
sulked and stroked her baby, whc
poked his head cut again as though
ready for another debut
1t was just about the time the baby
made his second jump that Post 5. OF
the G. A. R.. escorting some visitors,
and the two fife and drum bands from
Wilmington. got in range of the kan
CARGO department. and papa Mcropus
grew hilarious. He actually Rugged
Mrs. Micropus in the presence of the
military, and tried hard to pat his lit
tie ones head. For dozen times.
perhaps, this little family scene went
ON. much to the enjoyment OF the
crowd. and the disgust Of neighboring
kangaroos. who haven babies to bring
them into prominence. After awhile
the baby went 10 bed and the perform.
ance closed.
One of the keepers said that it Is Gus.
tomary with the Micropus species TO
discard their young and let them shift
for themselves when once they left the
maternal pouch. Recently this hap
pened and a bed was made for tho lit.
tie one OF soft cotton. They say it was
ludicrous to watch this youugster dive
into the Gotten head first, find the boo
too shallow and then tumble ungrace,
fully on the outs de.
Yesterdays youngster was in bet.
ter luck. although he will have to sup
port himself in the near future. now
that he has deliberately left his ma.
ternal lodgings philadelphia Press.