Washington sentinel., 1899-04-22
Snort i'm Australia.
EnghJh illustrated Magazine.

The kangaroo is the principal
victim of the chase, and its timid-
ity and sw;ftness of foot commend
it to the sportsman who likes his
sport minus unnecessary danger,
As much as its appetite for grass
intended Tor sheep and cattle con-
demns it in the eyes OF the farmer.
So the kangaroo has to 60, and it
does go in a variety of methods.
1t is hunted into stockades and
Drained with clubs; it is poisoned;
and it is shot, either by stalking
or driving. The last named is not,
IN the particular case OF the kan
garoo, very sporting method.
The animal is when Hurried as
dazed as any hare. Considera-
tions OF sport are, moreover, sub
serVient to the desire to destroy
such vermin, and the guns are in
consequence so posted, ard in such
numbers, that the animals have no
chance OF escape. Few animals
OF such SIZE die more easily, and a
very Indifferent marksman, with a
twelve bore loaded with No. ? shot
will generally, at close quarters,
bring down any kangaroo that is
driven by him. l have seen large
wallabies killed with no more than
half dozen pellets in the head
and chest. But the best method
oi bringing down the larger kan
garoos is un9uestionably by stalk.
ing with a well sighted rife. In
this there is real sport, or the near
est approach to sport that the
larger marsupials offer, and the
absence OF danger in the animal
itself is 20 some extent balanced
by the rough work entailed in
working two or three miles to lee
ward over parched sand and scrub
PeoPled by fierce insects and ven
omous snakes.
Any little excitement that the
sportsman NAV banker alter will
be furnished at a moments notice
bv his placing himself between a
black snake, or death-adder, and
i;s hole IN the neighborlng rock.
or by his disturbing a tarantula or
two. l know a surveying engi-
neer, who, on one occasion, some
where in tropical Queensland
placed his nose, when laying down
his chains, within an inch Of an
enormous basking centipede, and
has not, twenty years afterwards.
forgotten the horrible shock on
seeing the repulsIve creature close
to has face. Had it laid hold.
he was dead man. Cooler and
more peaceful is the moonlight
ramble after the smaller marsu-
pals that carry beautiful and much
coveted skins, and wander forth at
night amid the gum trees. By a |
marvellous protective instinct |
hese animals stifen their bodies
md remain motionless at the sound 4
II footsteps IN the dry under
.rowth, and, save when the expe-
fenced skin hunter gets them in |
inc with the moons friendly disc. A
nd critically reads their secret. E
hey thus escape many a charge Of
n OF. kven when discovered and
'lugged with lead, their prehensDe
AL and curved claws often cheat
he gunner OF mis- prey, and the |
orPses sway amid the gum
ranches that, then more than
yer, resemble gallows trees.
to see are, the little native (
ears (bears in name only, an 4 |
'eighing no more than a fA1
ounds) and. easiest to hear and |
istinguish. too, amid the few char
cteTlstic voices OF the b'Isb ia
heir blood curdling cry when
ably hit. / once heard a mon
ey's voice under similar circum-
aBces, but it was a glad whisner
ext to the swan song. of the koala.