Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-03-07
The Kangaroo.

an island so vast as to be ranked as
continent-nature has produced a sim
gular menagerie.
The first discoverers of this country
must have stared in amazement at the
strange sights which met their eyes.
There were wildernesses of luxuriant
and curious vegetable growths, inhab-
tied by large quadrupeds which ap-
peared as bipeds; queer little beasts
with bills like n duck, ostriches COW
cred with hair instead of feathers, and
lesions of odd birds. while the whole
woods were noisy with the screechlng
and prating of thousands of paroquets
and cockatoos.
The largest aud oldest Australian
quadruped is the kangaroo, member
of that strange fsmily, the Marsupialia,
which are provided with pouch, or
bag, in which they carry their little
ones until they are strong enough to
scamper about and take care of them
selves.
The delicately-forme head of this
strange creature, and its short fore
legs, are out of all proportion to the
lower part of its body, which is fur
nished with very long tail, and its
hind legs, which are large and very
strong. 1t stands erect as tall rs a
man, and moves by succession Of
rapid jumps, propelled by its hind
feet, its fore paws meanwhile being
folded across its breast A large kan
garoo will weigh fully 200 pounds,
and will cover NJ much as sixteen feet
at one Jump.
The body of this beast is covered
with thick soft, woolly fur of a gray
ish brown color. 1t is very harmless
and inoffensive, aud it is a very pretty
sight to see a little group Of kangaroos
feeding quietly in forest clearing.
Their diet is entirely vegetable. They
nibble grass or leaves, or eat certain
kinds of roots, the stout, long claws of
their hind feet serving them as con-
venient picksxe to dig with.
The kangaroo is very tender and
affectonate mother. When the baby
is born it is the most helpless creature
imaginable, blind, and not much big
ger than new born kitten. But the
mother lifts it carefully with her lips,
and gently deposits it in her pocket,
where it cuddles down and begins TO
grow This pocket is its home for slx
or seven months, until il becomes
strong and wise enough to fight it's
own battles in the woodland world.
While living in its mothers pocket It
is very lively. 1t is very funny to
see little head emerging all Of a
sudden from the soft fur Of the mothers
breast, with bright eyes pecping about
to see what is going on in the outside
world (; or, perhaps, nothing is visible
but little tail wagging contentedly.
while its baby owner is hidden from
sight.
The largest kangaroos are called
menuahs or boomers by the Australian
natives, aud their flesh is considered
great delicacy, in flavor something
ike young yenison. For this reason
these harmless creatures are hunted
and killed in large numbers. They
are very shy, and not very easy to
catch but the cunning bushmen hide
themselves in the thicket and when
their unSuspecting prey approaches,
they hurl lance into its body. The
wounded kangaroo springs off with
tremendous leaps, but soon becomes
exhausted and fslls On the turf.
If brought to bay, this gentle beast
will defend itself vigorously. With
its back planted firmly against a tree,
it has been known to keep off an army
, of dogs for hours, by dealing them
) terrible blows with it's strong hind
J feet until the arrival Of the hunter
with bis gun puts an end to the con-
test. At other times the kangaroo,
being an expert swimmer, will rush
into the water, and If yenturesoroe
: dog dares 10 follow il will seize him
2 and hold his head nnder water TIL be
3 IL drowned.
Kangaroos are often brought TO
E geological gardens. and are contented
in captivity, 20 long as they have
/, plenty Of corn, roots, and fresh hay
, to eat
rv.f ~ r.e.oo o.,, a h.. tr,,e ,