An Interesting Animal.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 August 1914, Page 8

An Interesting Animal.

It is calculate*! that one kangaroo eats as much grass and consumes. as ■■'■ much food generally as do five sheep, and consequently he is looked upon as an enemy in Queensland, to be hunted with the one idea of exterminating him altogether. In roaming the woods there one is almost sure to fall in with more or less of these animals. They fire usually found sitting upright in circles of a dozen or more, as grave, as though engaged in holding a formal council. Their short fore-paws hang limp before them, while their restless heads and delicate ears turn hither and thither in watchful care against surprise. When they are young they ar« as playful as kittens. Even when running away from pursuit—a process performed by enormous leaps, often covering ia rod at each Hying jump —there is a certain airy grace and harmony of movement attending their motions. Dogs and horses have more power of endurance than the' kangaroo, and are thus enabled to run them down ; but neither horse nor dog can achieve the same degree of speed for moderate distances. If the chase occurs in a wood where there a-re numerous obstacles, like heavy logs, the kangaroo is safe, since he can surmount all such impe.liments without diminution .of speed. This animal can easily be tamed, and will then follow a person about like a dog, evincing remarkable attachment and intelligence. One of them will often follow its mistress, . tho lady of the house, wherever she goes, but will not follow anyone olse. When she sits down, it will i come and nestle at her side with all the confidence imparted by a sense of perfect protection. I The kangaroo has a wonderfully expressive face, in>re than half human, with a head and large, plaintive eyes, quite like those of a fawn of the red deer species. The ears are long, nervously active, and extremely delicate, seeming to be almost transparent when seen against a strong light. Tasmania once swarmed with kangaroos, but the hunters there, as upon the mainland, have nearly obliterated the species. Full grown males sometimes measure six feet when standing upright, and weigh about a hundred and fifty pounds. The sharp claws of the short forefeet, are powerful weapons, and if brought to bay by dogs when hunted, the male kangaroo will sometimes turn upon his pursuers and with his claws disembowl the largest dog. When unmolested,, however, they use these fore-paws like a squirrel, j holding their food and carrying it to their mouths with them as men do with hands.