Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-30
THE LIVELY KANGAROO.
HABITS OF THE INTERESTING AUS
TRALlAN MARSUPlAL.

The Way They Eat and Herd-Their
Care for OHsprIng-ERorts 10 Domes-
tIcate Them In EnGlsnd-vaIue Of
Their Hides and FIesh.
The habits of the kangaroos resemble
those of the sheep and deer. They are
very shy, and have the senses of hearing
aud smell very acute. They are gregar-
ious, and are seen in droves of from
twenty to fifty. but are then very diff
cult to approach. They are entirely ter
restrial, aud when alarmed rise on their
hind feet and look about them. When
they discover danger, they start Off, leap
ing from fifteen to twenty feet at a jump.
They are herbivorous, and during the
warm, sultry hours of the day resort to
cool, shady bush or forest, where they
sleep, going out in the evening for food.
In ordinary weather, the large kanga-
roos (Macropius giganteus) are seen feed
ing in the day time, the drove led by an
old buck. They eat principally grass,
heather, and tender shrubs The latter they
browse on by standing erect on their hind
feet. They are especially fond of what
is called kangaroo grass. but will also eat
barley, oats, or rye if they can get them.
Their ordinary position is crouching
one. on account of tie disproportionate
size and length of the hind and front
legs. When they rise on the powerful
hind toes, they often stand over five feet
high, and use their forepaws as handily
as a Squirrel does to convey food to the
mouth They can go long time with
out water and are often found miles
away from any rivulet.
A doe has but one young at a birth,
which she carries in her pouch. The
feeble offspring continues to increase in
size, from sustenance exclusively de-
rived from the parent. for period of
eight months. After this time its small
head may be seen protruding from the
pouch and cropping the long grass at t.e
same time as the motl;er. 1t lives thus
till it is able TO run alongside of her. but
lie Instant she scents danger her little
pne is quickly thrust back into the pouch
for safety. The natives call the young
loeys, and they are pretty little creatures,
with their soft silvery fur, sharp ears,
and bright eyes.
The kangaroo can be easily tanned, and
though formidable animal to encoun-
ter in its wild state, when domesticated
it is inoffensive aud very cleanly one.
Since 1866 considerable attention has
been given to its economic value as re-
CARDS the use of its meat and skin. In
1874 an attempt was made to domesti-
cate some in England, but being kept
cooped up in pens like those of menag-
erie, it totally failed. The problem of
their acclimatization has, however, at
length been solved, and experiments re-
markably successful have been made.
AT Tring Park, the residence of the
late Baron de Rothschild, number Of
kangaroos were brought from Australia
and turned loose into the park and
woods in hopes Of breeding them. I'm
fortunately male and young one were
poisoned from eating the pernicious
Portugal laurel. Fresh ones were inn
ported, and the greatest success has
crowned the efforts 10 breed and accli-
natize in England. They have done so
veil that there are now in Tring Park
iwentyeight or thirty native kangaroos,
including the black and red species,
Benefits wallaby. the black waIlaby aud
the large Macropius or giant kangaroo.
Now. as this curious and valuable ami
NAL has been 90 successfully bred in
England, it is astonishing some enter
prising American has not already intro
duced it into the United States. There
is no doubt that with the same care that
has naturalized the ostrich, kangaroo
farming would be equally profitable 1t
would pay the government to place
few pairs in the Yellowstone Park where
they would be unmolested, and our large
Western cattle farmers would do well to
try them. 1t is surprising how little is
generally known of the value of kanga-
roo skins as an article of commerce.
Yet in Newark. N. j., six thousand skins
nre said TO be received every week from
New Zealand and Australia for the max
ing of fine shoes and other articles.
Up to 1869 the animals were only
killed for their meat, and the skins cut up
into shoestrings and leather thongs. etc.
An Englishman at this time discovered
the valuable quality of the leather and
brought some skins to this country. The
tanners fought shy of such hides, and
he at last got rid Of them to a bookbinder
for corners for ledgers and commercial
books. The valuable qualities soon after