The Princeton union., 1892-01-21
YOUNG FOLKS CORNER.
INTERESTING READING FOR THE
YOUNG.
Hunting the Kangaroo--HoW Rob
bic Rode After His Fathers
Some Amusing Experiments
--What He Would Say
--Llttle Harold.
Hunting the Kangaroo.

The term kangaroo" which is used
generally in most OF the world to de-
scribe any animal that has pouch
for carrying it's young, and a long
tail, and that proceeds by jumping on
its hind legs, is Of limited application
in Australia.
The kangaroo is differentiated by
many exact particulars from his cous-
ins, the wallaroo," the "wallaby,' y
and the "paddymelon," all of which
strangely named animals appear to
the uninitiated only as smaller indi-
viduals. of the kangaroo's immediate
family. "
Kangaroos are found in all sorts OF
country-in the open wood, on the
plains, in the dense Scrub" and in
rocky ravines. They are variously
hunted-on horseback, with or with
out dogs, and by stalking, either with
rifle or shotgun.
A kangaroo hunt on horseback is an
exciting and often dangerous pastime.
In timber, where it usually takes
place, it is particularly hazardous,
owing tofallenlogs and low-set branch
es, which often sweep the incautious
hunter over his horses tail and
drop him in an undignifed position
on the ground behind.
Firearms are not employed in this
pursuit, and when the game is cornerd
it is killed by a blow from the butt
end OF heavy riding whip or from a
stirrup, which is unshipped from the
saddle for the purpose. The dogs
used in the chase are a rough breed OF
large greyhounds, which havenot only
the strength necessary to pursue a
flying kangaroo for miles, but also to
attack HIM when brought to bay.
In addition to being timid and in
offensive by nature, the kangaroo is
poorly provided with offensive weap-
ons. His powers of biting are not
formidable, and his forepaws are so
weak as to seem almost rudimentary
members of little use. His hind legs
are muscular and strong, but are
apparently of use only to assist flight
from his enemies.
In these hind legs is found, however,
@ most formidable weapon in the
shape OF a long claw, as hard as steel
and sharp as q chisel-as terrible to
dogs as the scythe chariots of the
ancients were to their enemies.
He fights pluckily when cornered,
and if he can find stream or water
hole in which to await his foes, will
station himself waist-deep in it, and,
pushing the dogs under one by one as
they swim out to attack him, either
drown them outright or compel them
to retire for want OF breath.
Against human enemies, armed only
with clubs or stirrup irons, the kan
garoo often shows himself a. clever
boxer, wardlng off blows very dexter
ously with his fore paws, and now
and then making forward bounds,
with rapid play Of his dangerous hind
feet, which are difficult to avoid.
The common opinion that kanga-
roos use their strong, muscular tails
as a means OF propulsion in their fly
ing leaps, which often cover from 2Oft.
to Soft. each, is at once seen to be
fallacious by any one who joins in a
kangaroo hunt.
When sitting erect in attitude of OBJ
servation, the tail is used as an i'm
portant factor in the support of the
body, and when the animal is feeding
lat which times it moves about in a
lazy, crawling gait upon all four of it's
feet), it drags Imply over the earth.
In running, however, it is curved
gracefully upward to clear the ground,
and never once touches it during the
kangaroo's flight, being seen to fulfil
the Office of q balancing pole, and pre-
serving the animals equilibrium by
shifting positions according to the
nature Of the ground.
So important is the kangaroo's tail
in his rapid progress that experienced
hunters with guns are accustomed to
tire at the point where this appendage
joins the body-when, the tail being
disabled for it's office of balancing, the
animal is as efectually stopped as if
hamstrung. Hit elsewhere, except
with a rifle bullet, or at point-blank
range, the kangaroo is pretty likely to
get off. 1911.
When the early settlers entered
Australia they found the country
swarming with the marsupial tribes,
and as there was not enough pastur-
age for sheep and kangaroos, war
oI IeNCermlnaClOn was Waged against
the latter. They were slaughtered by
millions, until, at the present day, a
kangaroo is, in most districts, as
scarce as the buffalo in America.
Now that kangaroo leather is q
valuable commodity, the settlers are
mourning their recklessness, and talk
ing means to preserve the animal from
extinction. - r.. e-...
How Robbie Rode After His Father.
Robbie's father was going to the
city, and going on horseback, too.
Robbis wanted to go very much. but
it was q long way. Robbie was very
little, 50 he must stay at home with
mother. He watched his father ride
away, and he did not cry, as every
body expected he would. O, no, for q
fine plan had crept into his small
head.
After his father was out of sight,
Robbie looked around until he found
his stick horse. He didn't look for
hia hnt for ha didn't lilo to u,nor;t