Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-11
AUSTRALIAN SHOOTING
STRANGE BIRDS AND ANIMALS
SEEN By A HUNTER.
Whitebacked Piping Crow--A Kanga-
roo Drive and How It is
Conducted.
From Forest and Stream.

Melbourne, Australia, l fortunately made
the acquaintance of a party who owned
q sheep run, at the foot of the Australian
Alps. So soon as he discovered my love
for field sports he gave me cordial 1nv1-
tation to accompany him on his return
home, and enjoy a kangaroo hunt, which
ne would get up for my delectation l
promptly accepted his kind offer, and i'm
patiently waited unl he had finished the
details Of selling his crop of wool and
purchased supplies for his run. to last for
the ensuing twelve months. In few days
we started with the wagons, filled with
provender, &c, and passed in the vicinity
of the famous Fern Tree Gully.
We camped over night but short d1s-
lance from this noted locality, and my
host and self cantered through the whole
of it. 1 had seen and admired number
of these trees in the public squares of Mel
at this farfamed locality fairly astounded
me. About noon on the following day we
passed small wayside tavern. where l
had my first interview with the white
backed piping crow The landlord had a
pet one, which flew about the premises.
and when it's master called 1T, 1T perched
on his shoulder, which he walked out into
an adjoining Enclosure, where he Spr1nkled
several handfuls of grain. The crow i'm
mediately fiuttered off to the fence ana
began to call for the members OF its species
which dwelt in the neighborhood. In a
very short time quite large Hook mad
grain, while the pet showed his gratifica-
ton by sundry highly pitched notes, re-
sumed his perch on his masters shoulder.
and accompanied him back to the house.
Marching Thro' Georgia.
Singular to relate, but short time sub
sequently, while passing along the streets
of Sydney one evening. 1 caught the
sound of something whistling Marching
Through Georgia." and, tracing 1t to
bar room, entered, and at the cost OF d
glass of ale, learned from the BARNARD thas
several years previously Ptiiol , siu
the American war had been on exhlpltlon
in the city, and the music caught the town
and very naturally nearly every one was
whistling it; CONSEQUENTLY the pet white,
backed crow caught the tune, anu hao
whistled it regularly ever since.
The sheep run was located at the 1901 OF
the Australian Alps, along the slopes OF
which it was my hosts intention TO intro
duce me into the process OF Kahgaroo nun =
ing. His first movement was to dlspatch
several of the natives in his employ 10
hunt I'D a posse of their fellow countrymen
to serve as beaters, ana as inns "ouiI
take several days, he proposed that
should go with him on one OF ms GUS
tomary visits to one of his shepherds on
an outlying run. We accompanied the
wagon. which took out stores to last for
several weeks.
ON our arrival 1 was surprised to find
that the shepherds sole companions were
the collies which assisted him in the care
of the flock His abode consisted of small
shanty, which could be lifted into wagon
and moved as the occasion required. Inc
intelligence of the colies was amazing
They seemed to know just what was ex-
pected of them and attended to the care or
the focks with all the skill and Judgment
of a human being. Finding everything in
al l. lnr tn nj
the shepherd, and hurried back to head
quarters, anxious to commence our foray
on the kangarooS.
In the morning after our return the ma
tive contingent began to arrive, and by
nightfall the entire posse, numbering about
fifty, put in an appearance. Consequently
early in the forenoon of the following day
we started to climb the slopes of the noun
tains, and by noon arrived In the vicinity
of our game as war scouts, who kept a
small distance in advance, hurried back
and reported to US. A temporary camp
was formed and all the preparations COM
pleted for foray early on the following
morning.
Driving the Game.
We were away betimes, going directly
up the ascending land for about couple
of miles, when we turned sharply to the
right, and after proceeding some little dis
lance secreted ourselves in the underground
and feverishly awaited the appearance of
the game, which would be driven in our
direction by the natives. who We're slowly
in semicircular Gordon, thus
forcing the animals into our immedia te
My host and myself Were
loca ted some distance apart. and the
scheme was to compel a greater portion of
the game to pass through the space be
tween us.
for some time when my attention was
caught by a flash of brownish color but
short distance to my right, and L was
taken by surprise by the appearance of a
pair of Tyre birds buSily engaged in scrap
ing quite a depression In the ground SIM
liar to those formed by our common barn
yard fowls. My attention was so complete
ly fixed by the actions of the birds that I
became oblivious to my original purpose,
when | was startled by continuous
humping approaching in my direction,
which caused a responsive action under my
ribs and frightened the birds so that they
disappeared. Instantly becom-
ing watchful, | did not have long to wait
before l sped a small group of kangaroos,
which were evidently the advance guard of
the throng. bounding along in full sight
but too far away to insure sure shot
In spite of my anxiety to begin a fusil-
lade I concluded to wait for an opportunity
which would insure successful termina-
ton. / did not have to remain quiet but
a very short time before my loyalty became
fairly alive with fleeing marsupials. For
tunately for me, my host got in the first
shot. which caused the throng of thor
oughly frightened animals to swerve in
my direction, giving me an excellent OPP
portunity to single out a sure shot about
every time l pulled the trigger.
By making firm stand against what
thought was precarious shots l pulled the
trigger six times while the game were
flying past me. and managed to gather
up three red and two great kangaroos as
the result of my broadside. I had Just
finished dragging my game into a heap
and was congratulating myself on my good
fortune, when my companion put in an APP
pearance, accompanied by three natives,
carrying one red and two great kangaroos,
which made his bag. In short time a
number of other natives Joined up, who
shouldered my portion of the game. and
we tramped back to our camp much pleas
ed with the result of our sport
Taggart Boy Ran Away.