Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-05-21
THE LIVELY KANGAROO.
HABITS OF THE INTERESTING AUS.
TRALlAN MARSUPlAL.

ticntr Them in EnGIand-VaIue OF
Their Hides and Flesh.
The habits of the kangaroos resemble
those of the sheep and deer They are
| very shy, and have the senses of hearing
md smell very acute. They are gregar-
| ious. aud are seen in droves of from
/ twenty to fifty, but are then very diff.
/ cult to approach. They are entirely ter
| restrial, and 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 jump.
/ They are herbivOrous, and during the
warm, sultry hours of the day resort to
/ Coul, shady bush CT 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 daytime, the drove led by an
old buck. They eat principally grass,
/ heather, and tender shrubs. The latter they
browse Oh 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 a 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 squirrel does to convey food to the
mouth. They can go long time with
out water and are often found miles
rway 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 the
same time as the mother. 1t lives thus
till it is able to run alongside of her, but
the instant she scents danger her little
one is quickly thrust back into the pouch
for safety. The natives call the young
joeys, 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 and very clearly one.
Since 1865 considerable attention has
been given to its economic value as re-
CARDS the use Of its meat and skin. In
1914 an attempt was made to domesti
cate some in England, but being kept
cooped up in pens like those of a 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. Un-
fortunately male and young one were
poisoned from eating the pernicious
Portugal laurel. Fresh ones were i'm
ported, and the greatest success has
crowned the efforts to breed and accli-
Matte in England. They have done SO
we'll that there are now in Tring Park
twenty eight or thirty native kangaroos,
including the black and red species,
BENEFITS wauaby, the black wallaby and
the large Macropius or giant kangaroo.
Now, as this curious and valuable ami
mai has been so successfully bred in
England, it is astonishing some enter
prsing American has not already intro
duced it into the United States. There
IS no doubt that with the same care that
has naturalzed the ostrich, kangaroo
farming would be equally profitable. 1t
would pay the government to place a
few pairs in the Yellowstone Park, where
they would be unmolested, and our large
Western cattle farmers would do we'll to
try them. 1t is surprising how little is
generally known of the value Of kanga-
roe skins as an article of commerce.
Yet in Newark, N. j., six thousand skins
ere 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
no at last got rid of them to bookbinder
for corners for ledgers and commercial
books. The valuable qualities soon after
this began to be recognized, as the grain
prevents its absorbing water, but then it
was found very difficult to procure
enough skins. Three years ago the estab-
iishment now working them in Newark
sent out agents to make arrangements
for a continuous supply.
1t was very soon found that kangaroo
bunting was a dangerous business, as
when brought to bay it fights bravely for
life and leaps like flash on the hunter,
crying to tear open the chest with the ter
rible claws of the front feet. Seven or
eight men go out together, and wear a
strong protection on the chest. Then the
heat on the plains where the greater spe.
cies congregate, whose skins are most
valued, is often $40 degrees. 1t is profit.
able business all round. especially to the
hunters if they escape accidents, as they
realize about 70 cents pound for the
hides when sold at the seaports by auc-
ton for shipping to America.
Not only are the hides of much value,
but its flesh also. The hind quarters of a
large buck often weigh over eighty
pounds each, and the hams find a ready
sale. The tail and head are especial
gamey and though perhaps not equal to
that of our deer, steaks from young ami
mals are juicy and tender and much
sought after AS we have every climate
within our boundaries, it is quite certain
we have all that is required for the kan
] pf oil tla 10