MARVELLOUS JUMPERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1145, 13 September 1913, Page 4

MARVELLOUS JUMPERS.

ROME KANGAROO RECORDS. “REAP OF SEVENTY FRET.” How far ami how high can a kangaroo jump? The question is discussed in the Sydney Mail, and sumo astonishing statements are made by one writer as to the performances of which the big marsupials aro callable. One writer says that he knows of an instance of a kangaroo having cleared a space of 45ft in one spring, while another writer claims that a distance of 70ft. had boon jumped. There are many who believe that this seemingly incredible distance is not beyond a kangaroo’s jumping powers under favourable condit ions. Near Young, many years ago, when kangaroos were plentiful, one was proved to have jumped a distance of 52ft. The animal was hard pressed by dogs, and a(, great speed raced down a slope of about half a mile, gathering way as bo wont. Near the bottom of the slope was an old slab and bark but. and on the upper side of it a sft fence. The kangaroo took off when within 20ft of the fence and clearing it and the hut with one magnificent bound, landed 32ft on the other .side. The soil was soft, hut lirm, and there was consequently no doubt or difficulty involved in obtaining the correct moasuremonts.g Another contributor says that on Burramunda station lie once saw a flying doe jump into a newly-erected wire fence from a distance of 38ft. The animal was hotly pursued by a couple of kangaroo dogs. Making for some thick scrub, the (foe dashed down hill, and, apparently misjudging the distance of the wire fence, which shone out: in the summer sun, took off too toon. The result was that she landed right across the top wire, and botli her hind legs were cut off at the thigh as cleanly as if a knife had been used for tho purpose. If kangaroos can jump great distances on the level, they are. various writers assert, almost equally good at high-jumping. On a station out on the Bland Plains old hands will show you what is, with some solid reason, counted as the ‘‘record - ’ high jump of that locality. Ii was put up bv a medium-sized marsupial, and measured 22ft. In those days kangaroos abounded in countless flocks in that part of the country. Periodically they had kangaroo ‘‘drives* with the object of reducing the numbers. Part of the scheme was a small yard, with wide and far-reaching wings, 'into which the animals were finally driven fur convenience of killing. Knowing fomething of the jumping power of kangaroos when pu-died to extremes of danger and excitement, the people of the station had this final yard constructed of soliil timber, built to a height of 2211. As the enclosure was not spacious enough to give a kangaroo any chance of getting a run to acquire the impetus for a great jump, it was deemed im-po-'-ihle for any of them to iscape when once massed in this yard. On one occasion. however, the entirely unexpected happened. Obtaining momentarily a clear space, and taking two short preliminary hops from the opposite side of the yard, akangaroo rose at the fence and got over. People not acquainted uilfi (he marvellously perfect leaping mechanism with which nature has provided the kangaroo may feel disposed to question some of these heights anti distances; but, wii.b the exception of (he 70ft record, till have been authenticated by trustworthy evidence. And if a kangaroo can jump 52ft. there is really no reason (says tlie Mail) why it should not make an extra 20ft under specially favourable circumstances. The writer has scon an “old man” make a standing jump from a tree where he had turned at bay to meet an attack of clogs of 31ft.