Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-18
BREED KANGAROOS
FOR THE MARKET
NOVEL INDUSTRY ESTABLISHED
IN ENGLAND
Proprietors Find Ready Sale for the
Animals to Country Gentlemen
Who Want Them
for Pets
srecial Cable to The Herald.

srecial Cable to The Herald.
LONDON, Aug. 1.-THE increasing pop
ularity of kangaroos and wallabies as
pets has led to a curious departure in
farming at Lyncombe HILL Bath, where
the first kangaroo farm in this or any
other country has been established.
The founders of this enterprise are two
Englishmen, Messrs. w. II. Payne and
Jack Wallace, who probably know more
about the UNEMPLOYED wilds of Northwest
Australia than any persons living who are
not native bushmen. Their wanderings
in the remotest of savage Australasian
districts cover a period of more than
thirty years. and they are both seasoned
bushmen keen naturalists and skilled
trappers.
They were the first persons to bring the
beautiful and valuable antelope kangaroo
to this country, and at Lyncombe Hill
they have just effected a remarkable
success in breeding from this species, one
of the does having care of youngster-
the prettiest and liveliest little fellow
imaginable, with dainty little head ex-
actly like that of an Italian greyhound.
A press representative was shown over
the kangaroo farm by Mr.. Payne, who
is now in charge at Bath while Mr.. Wal
lace is securing a new collection OF AMI
mails, which are to arrive from the Ans
tipodes next April.
Mr. Payne first led the way into the
nursery-a large, bright apartment heat
ed very near to tropical temperature.
Comfortably quartered here were several
Young wallabies, with the little ante
lopine infant and tits mother.
Hiqh Fences Necessary
The buildings and paddocks of the
farm cover about four acres, and they
are surrounded by high stone wall. The
latter is an essential on kangaroo farm,
for as Mr. Payne pointed out, an old
man kangaroo is wonderful jumper.
Heights of ten feet and lengths OF
twenty feet are not uncommon, he
added, land 1 have myself measured
Jump along the ground of eighteen feet
in the large paddock here"
1t was interesting to see half dozen
antelopine kangaroos in one of the pad
docks hustling one another to secure
slice of bread Mr.. Payne carried. They
boxed and wrestled just like human be-
ings.
an time" said Mr.. Payne, their coats
become like those of Angora goats. If we
were to 70 out especially to secure pair
of antelc.pines it would cost us at least
ESQ But we bring home so many other
profitable animals as well that we
are able to sell these rarest of kangaroos
at ELS pair"
The price list of kangaroos and walla-
bies at Lyncombe Hill contains the fol-
lowing species:
The pair.
Ante1opine kangaroo .,....... So
p,,so,,s tengaroos . 945
ciI,er Lanparoos .,....,... G45
Great gray kangaroos .............''..tb TO Izo
Wallables f10 to Els
1.-The rarest kangaroos in England are
to be seen in the Belle Vue gardens,
Manchester" said Mr.. Payne; they
nearly all went from this farm, but the
most interesting fact in. relation to our
kangaroo farm is that we are doing a
steadily increasing business with country
gentlemen. with whom the idea of having
kangaroos at large in their parks IS be-
coming very popular. Wallabies also are
being bought in large numbers by well to-
do people.
"Kangaroos are docile and sensible
pets and they require very little attention.
In the summer they live mainly on grass
and sleep out of doors; in winter they re-
ouire a shelter such as park deer have,
and they do best on, diet of crushed
maize" u