New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-17
HUNTING THE KANGAROO.
DANGEROUS AND EXCITING AUSTRIA
LIAM SPORT.
-. -, ox,v ro PIE rorXp IN THE 'BUsH."
AND Is DIFFICULT TO SECURITIES
OFFENSIVE POWERS.

IT IS ONLY TO BE FOUND IN THE b'S"'
AND Is DIFFICULT TO sEcrRE-ITs
OFFENSIVE POWERS.
Melbourne. Australia. January -.
\ common disappointment among travellers IN
,s,rali, and through the colonies is that they
have seen no kangaroos in real flesh ana ploo''
Indeed there are large numbers OF people VIM
have lived in Melbourne and the outside niue
cities and town. for some years VINO nave new
seen a kangaroo The coat of arms OF Aus'ra"a
hears the figure OF a kangaroo, the headings OF
scores of newspapers have the representation OF Il
Lanparoo in their makeup and there are thou-
sands Of pjctures and photographs All over the
countrv of kangaroos in all manner oil atu'udes
and OF all sizes; but the real peast II MOI SCI" III
it's wild state outside Of the push many ni'es
remote from the abodcs oil cN'""" ~ "
lines of railroad travel
rhro arc stul thousands OF the marsupials in
tho hack aocks" and the ''bush' as the interior
plains and forests OF Australia are k"o"n "e,'
Forty-five and fifty years ago thcre "e'c "'''S
countless armies Of kangaroos all Over the 'Sa"''
rho carly settlers who came here TO become shep-
herds found that II was Impossible 10 heeP NV"
nocks with the kangaroos swarmhs over ."e
country The latter devoured the pasturase LOT
tho sheen and in consequence thousands OF iahps
and ewes starved to death. Inc coioh's'S Jo"'"
together in common war upon Inc hHhs"ioos
Tbev were trapped shot dubbed poisoned ana
twenty years In 1850 alone 1t Is reported over
half a million were put to death. club OF Eng
ush sheep ranchers kept for some years over lory
hunters and trappers constantly e'hp'ose' J."
DESTROYING kangaroos. The carcasses were '"'o"h
in great ravines or pits and allowed to rot whiie
in other localities great piles OF me oouieS Vi .'
animals were made and then cremated Inc
toncoroo skins now so valuable, were never
saved So useful has kangaroo leather no" ne
come and such fortunes are made IN shipping ,he
bidos n America and England that the Australian
lawmakers are giving great attention to laws that
shall preserve the marsupals instead OF ueVisns
.asures for wholesale extinction
successfully to shoot kangaroos 1t Is necessary 10
,o about 10 miles out OF Melbourne in the bush
Some little hunting may be done on the common
property" land. but 20 jealousy IS the hunting Oh
the animals now guarded by the wealthy ana IN
Guential landowners that the on.y satisfactory
shooting Of this kind is he done under permission
Of the overseers or landlords Kangaroos are usual
~ found in the open or amid struggling bush. where
II il difficult 10 get them. and where the hunter
may think himself lucky II he gets more IMAM one
in a day. one OF the hes. forms Of sport 'n AUS
tralia is found in shooting bush "alI'heS' OF phunS
melons Paddymelons are small kdngaroos stand
Ing about three feet high and furnish the sportsman
an opportunity TO display all his skill In shooting
by the quckncss Of their moven enis ana the ulH-
cult nature of the country IN which ihey arc found
Tho hunter has but to stand quiet moment ana
listen 10 become assured that The woods are ialfy
alive with these strange creatures. Although see
ing nothing he hears al about a CHASTITY Ap-iAp-
tanning as the hopping bodies strike the thick.
elastic turf Now and then glimpse j. caught OF
a shadow like animal passing across narrow open
inc I'm the serrated lines Of tree. the hunter hres
snarty: the smoke hangs in An impenetfabe ven
against the earth. he hears beyond II struggle.
and forcing his way through the sap7ngS. mas
his game SPRAYING on the moss-a slender. graceful.
animal suggesting at once the deer and the rat
kangaroo IN miniature.
The term kangaroo" which is used generally
I'm most parts Of tho world 10 describe any animal
that has a pouch FOR carrying It's young. and
long tail and that proceeds by jumping on us
hind legs Is OF limited applicability In Australia
The Kangaroo is differentiated by many exact par
ticulars from his cousins the ""alaroo. Inc
"wallaby" and the "paddymelon nall % which
strangely named animals appear 10 the unnitiaied
only as smaller individuals OF the Kangaroo I'm
mediate family. Generally speaking the kangaroo
is larger than the wal.aroo. the wallaroo than the
wanaby ana the wallaby than the laddymcon.
while taperIng on from this st-mentoned animal
are found other species. which include the "kansa-
roo rat" and end In the diminutiv" kangaroo
mouse" which H. the image OF the full-sro~n
kangaroo proper when seen through an inverted
opera glass. All these species are further sub
divided that there tire great red kangaroo
the blue flyer and many Others In the hrst group
bush" and rock" wallabies. ard paddymclons.
black. gray ard brown.
All these are easily domesiirated except. per
haps. the larger representatives. Of the Kangaroo
species proper. which. they grow to be six and
even seven feet IN height. are too cumbersome TO
make desirable pets. Many stations had one or
OF the smaller varieties OF kangaroos do
INVESTIGATED upon them, Ia company with cockatoos
and parrots magples and laughing iackasses. and
now and then ii stately and generally ill-naturcd
emu The mission station OF Ramahyuk had one In
the person OF Jacky 4 funny little fellow OF year
Old who always under foot and amused him
self by frantic races with nothing around the
Enclosure formed by the mission buildings. There
is something uncanny about the whole breed Of
kangaroos. As they sit up TO watch you in the
centre OF the broad. dry plains, they look Ike
strange. ancient images. left to brood over desola
ton by a vanished and forgotten race, and under
the shade of the solemn mimosas and whispering
resemble in their mmobility the idols OF a ong-
extinct worship Even in captivity and after long
acquaintance they MAINTAIN TINS icaf-lHSpTihS
quality
ously-on horseback. with or without dogs. and by
stalking. either with rifle or shotgun a Kangaroo
hunt horseback Is an exciting and often danger
Gus pastime. In wooded country, where 1t usually
takes place, 1t is particularly hazardous owing to
the fallen logs and low set branches which often
sweep the incautious hunter his horses tail
and drop him IL an undgniiied position position, on ne
pursuit and when the game Is cornered II Is Killed
S Sho Or S'T from nro" fuP p" when h Is anshpped from
The saddle for The purPose Ihe aogs ,lSda IN me
chase rough breed ol large SIeNnouHu%' WHlch
have not only the strength necessary to pursue
flying kangaroo for miles. but also TO attack him
when ne Is brought TO bay. The old dogs In sta
ton pack OF kangaroo hunters are often marked
from ears 10 tail with frightfu scars the records
OF many tough encounters with an animal which.
timid and lnonensivc as II IL by nature. develops
In peril IA courage and even ferOcty that are rarely
found outside the order Of carnivOra.
The kangaroo seems poorly provided by nature
with offensive weapons. His powers OF biting
not formidable and his forcpaws 80 weak to
seem almost rudmentary members and OF little use.
His hinllc are muscular and strong, but are APP
parently OF use only 10 assist flight from his
enemies In these hindegs Is found. however.
most formidable weapon IN the shape OF long
claw as hard steel and sharp AZ "A chise-as
terrible dogs the scythe-chariots Of the an
clients were TO their enemies. When run down the
kangaroo getting IN front Of tree. Will seize In
his forepaws such lndscreet dogs as rush upon
with sweep OF his sickleke claws; Even the