The record-union., 1891-03-23
STRANGE ANIMALS.
Laughing Jackass Bird of Australia
why He Isn't Killed.
How Hunter Near BalIarat Was
Badly Mystified-Flyfng Foxes-The
Gippsland Kangaroo and the Alba
tross A Prehistoric Feathered
Giant-Mexican .Jack-Rabbits.

oltAt-AlCk1can
The first time that the writer made the
acquaintance of the laughing jackass was
in the bird market of Sydney, Australia,
where one was offered for sale confined
in huge wicker cage, but the sarcastic
notes of this ludicrous bird were often
heard afterward in its wild state, singing
through the jungle. 1t is one of the most
curious things the traveller meets in his
wanderings. Mischievous, sly, droll, and
without a particle of shyness, what bird
1t is! Its plumage is white and black,
presenting very little tail, but it is pro-
vided with large, gawlly head, a we'll
rounded body, and is about the size of
our domestic pigeon. The eyes are very
large and gaze boldly at the observer, as
if to pierce him through and through.
This bird laughs almost exactly like a
human being, with n sort OF bird malice
added, and though his notes are harsh,
his merriment is extremely ludicrous
and even contagious. One not only
laughs at, but with him. His rattling
articulation form tumult of laughter.
He is as intelligent as q mino bird or a
parrot, and can BIC taught to articulate
words like them, and, we are sorry to
say, takes most aptly to profane language
The laughing jackaSs is of the king
fisher family of birds, but derives its food
supply mostly from small snakes. These
he seizes just back of the head, and flying
high in air drops them upon stony
ground, which breaks the delicate spine,
after which he devours them piece-meal,
and as he thus performs what is consid-
cred an important service, he enjoys en-
tire immunity from trap and gun in
Australia.
An anecdote is told of a stranger who
was out cunning near Ballarat, Victoria.
Hearing the coarse notes of the jackass,
he thought some person was laughing at
his lil-lucS, and consequently became
angry. In vain did he look about to find
the individual, and as the birds jeering
tones came again upon his ears the sports
mans anger increased. He cooked his
gun and peered into the bushes, resolved
10 fire charge of shot at the party who
thus ridiculed him, but seeing no one he
wreaked his vengeance upon the real,
though unsuspected, culprit, and shot the
bird as soon as he caught sight of him.
FLYING FOXES IN INDIA.
The flying fox is most peculiar ami
NAL, not unlike a mammoth bat. One
sees them in surprising numbers in diff
ferent parts OF India, especially on moon
light nights. They are very disastrous
to choice fruits, but their principal food
is the young leaves of the gum trees. At
times they visit certain cultivated sec
tions in such hordes as to sweep away
every green leaf, like a swarm of locusts.
European SportSmen have eaten them,
and pronounce the flesh to be palatable,
but the natives never eat them. The fly
ing fox is unable to take flight from the
ground. By means of its sharp claws,
however, it rapidly climbs tree, from
the branches of which it throws itself into
the air and Skins about by expanding a
thin mem brane which opens beneath it's
limbs. 1t directs it's course through the
atmosphere with great precision without
any yibratory motion. During the day
time these animals retire to the seclusion
OF the forest, coming forth at night with
the bats and owls. They sleep hanging
head downward from the branches. to
which they adhere by the natural hook at
tached to the points of their shoulders.
One also sees in India the flying opos-
sum, which ''shoots" across considerable
spaces at high elevation by expanding
thin membrane attached to either side
of the body, and which connects the fore
and hind legs.
6IPPSLAND KANGARooS.
This interesting animal is indigenous
to Australia, and is found in wild state
nowhere else. In Gippsland, north OF
Melbourne, the writer has seen them
when they were being hunted, driven to-
gether by the hundred. They are usu-
ally found in thickly wooded tracts of
country. sitting upright in circles COM
posed of dozen or more animals, SEEM
fngly as grave as though assembled in
formal council, their short forepaws
hanging limp before them, while their
restless heads and delicate, transparent
ears turned hither and thither in watch
ful care against surprise. The sharp
claws of the short forefeet are powerful
nd l,,.o1zoh+ 10 IL,
hunted the male kangaroo will turn upon
his pursuers and with his claws disem-
bowel the largest and fiercest dog. When
unmolested they use these paws like a
squirrel, holding their food in them, and
carrying it to their mouths. Notwith-
standing their huge paunches, big hind
quarters and immense tails, there is
something graceful about these ami
mails. Even when running away
formed by enormous leaps, using
the hind legs only, there is certain
harmony of movement attending
their motion. The females in time OF dan
ger receive their young in natural
pouch attached to their bodies, and even
when thus incumbered they will outstrip
a horse for a considerable distance
Thousands are killed annually by the
hunters in Queensland, New South Wales
and Victoria. One kangaroo eats as
much as half dozen sheep, and is there
fore looked upon as destructive enemy
by the ranchmen, the skins being also
utilized as an article of commerce. The
natives eat the body, but Europeans find
the flesh too strong in flavor.
The kangaroo when young is some
times made pet of by the European set
lerS. The writer saw one at Landhurst.
q famous mining district in Australia.
which followed its mistress up and down
stairs and about the house like dog.
When she sat down the young kangaroo
would sit by her side on the floor. layine
its head in her lap like trusting child,
now and then raising its large, expressive
eyes to gaze tenderly into it's mistress
face The lady said that the gentle crea-
ture would not willingly be out of her
presence for moment.
THE ALBATRoss, MONARCH OF BIRDS.
This fateful bird of nautical romance is
not very generally distributed on the
ocean. The writer has seen them in
flockS of score or more on the border OF
Tasmania to Southern New Zealand. The
popularity of the flight of the albatrosS is
obvious to the most casual observer. 1t
scarcely ever plies its wings in vibra-
tory manner, but sails upon the wind in
any direction it chooses, though what
mysterious power propels it with or
against the wind, who can say? If for a
moment the bird partially alights upon
the water to seize some object of prey
there is tritiing exertion evident in ris-
ing again until a few feet in hight is at
tained,. when all visible effort ceases.
Ihe aloatross IS armed with tremen-
dous beak from six to eight inches lone.
ending in sharp pointed hook of great
hardness and strength, the most terrible
weapon attached to any of the feathered
tribe. The average bird of this species
measures three feet in length of BODY.
I, ,l1