The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-16
AUSTRALIAN BUSH
HUNTERS PARADISE
The Kangaroo and the Wing
less Birds Offer Rare
Sport.
WILD DUCK PLENTIFUL
Animals Seen Nowhere Else
on Earth Range the
Wilderness.


Australia is regular sportsman's
paradise and many queer creatures are
dropped by good marksmen.
The iguana Is a sort of land alligator.
frequently measuring six feet from tip
to tip. While its attractiveness as an
edible Is limited to the Australian
aborigtne. its attractiveness as q trophy
appeals to all visiting hunters. for the
skin when tanned makes a good SOU
venir. The iguana is usually found
along the edge OF the bush (forest) and
can be chased at a fair speed by a
mounted hunter. This IL purely for
amusement. because they are easy to
shoot. when once sighted. but the great
lizard in a hurry is ludicrous OBJ
ject as It whacks along the ground
with its stubby legs wiggling frantically
even while the animal Is In the air. for
the iguana makes haste In a series of
long Jumps
In Tasmania the green parrots offer
novel sport for shotgun enthusiasts
and parrot pie Is q genuine treat
In in Queensland are the wingless
lhirds-the kiwi. the emu and the casso-
wary. Mounted specimens Of these birds
are an interesting addition to any COL
lection.
For the camp table an abundance OF
rabbit Is assured II no other meat Is
available, for there are millions ana
millions of these pests. but shooting
| them Is tame sport, so they attract at
tention only for their utility.
Great Place for wild Duck.
In West Australia and the northern
territory are thousands of wild duck
and the Australian method of hunting
assures big bags. Tho bush ponds are
surrounded by the gunners and then the
flock put up, II 1t hasn't taken to flight
already. and the birds are turned by
the gunners, who fire into them as they
approach. One party got forty-eiSht In
two hours with only four guns going.
| In the west, too, are enough deer to
make hunting them worth while, and
also there are the brumby. or wild
horses, which offer good sport. Millions
OF buffalo (Asiatic) roam the northern
territories and their bulk and bravery
often call out all the reserve skill and
courage of the hunter.
| West Australia offers to lovers OF
the chase the widest and most thrill
l. ing sport possible with horse and hound.
Instead Of chasing foxes the Australians
chase the speedy kangaroo. and the
novice Is fortunate indeed to be In at
the kill. for the fleet Australian horses
are ridden full speed through the bush.
10 IN
dense wood in America. Perhaps more
so. for hidden In the underground are
ant hills, hard as concrete and anywhere
from a foot to eight feet high.
The Australian horfe when trained to
bush work becomes as quick and nimble
as a cat without losing any OF its speed.
The most the rider has to do Is sit
tight and ride hard. for these thorough
bred horses run close to the hound and
clear OF all distractions OF course they
are liable to run under an overhanging
limb unless the rider is quick enough to
see the danger, and some times they
clear trees enough to let themselves past
but give their riders leg hard bump
Swinging we'll out in the saddle will
usually prevent such painful contacts.
Kangaroo a Game Fighter.
4
sport Only one dog is used and these
are especially bred for the work-usually
crosses between the feet greyhound and
the courageous Airedale. No weapons
are used-the dog does It all after the
game is sighted.
The hard runs after kangaroo will aver.
age from half to mile, which is quite
far enough, because OF the exhausting
nature Of such chase. but sometimes a
big boomer" or giant kangaroo will run
for several miles. Usually, however
these peculiar animals back up against
the first available large tree and OFFER
vantage OF enough distance to make such
stopping safe.
The battle between hound and boomer
is vicious. When tripoded upon hind
legs and tail the kangaroo will stand
from four to nine feet high and the
reach of his wicked hind legs is about
equal to his height The kangaroo's
greatest weapon is the hornlike nail Nor
the middle of his three toes He is pow.
erful enough to drive this nail through
solid sole leather leggings or rip then
from top to bottom. Naturally It be-
hooves dog, men and horses to keeI
at a safe distance. There have beer
many untimely funerals because tn,
hunters got close enough for the kan
CARGO to reach out with its strong for,
legs and hug the unfortunate exactly
as a bear holds its victim. The kan
CARGO. however. works faster, for reach
ing up nearly to his own chin with tn,
powerful hind leg he makes a quicl
slash and the resulting damage h fire.
Quently fatal.
Kangaroo hind quarters are as de
licious as plump. young rabbit and tast,
much the same and kangaroo tail soul
is one of the great delicacies of tn,
Australian bush.
Tho weirdness of Australian wilde an,
the queerness OF Australian game are .
closed book to most American sports
men. but one expedition makes an en-
thusiast of every hunter fortunate
enough to visit the back blocks o
the southern commonwealth.