THE POUCHED ANIMALS 



41 



i 



standing upright it holds its short paws in a drooping 

 position, its ears erect, its mild and beautiful eyes 

 glancing about. When feeding, it drops 

 on all fours and moves along with a 

 half leap. 



There are many species of kangaroos 

 in Australia. Some are such pests that 

 the planters combine against them at 

 times and have "kangaroo drives." 

 At such times the men for miles about 

 come on horseback with their dogs and, 

 forming a long line across the country, 

 gradually drive the stricken animals to 

 their death. 



The young of the kangaroo, generally 

 two, are very helpless when born. They 

 are at once placed in the pouch, where 

 they are carried for a long time. The 

 mother is often seen leaping with the 

 head of the big baby kangaroo looking 

 out of its nest. In the sea horses it is 

 the male that has the pouch, but in the 

 kangaroo it is the mother. The pouch 

 of the kangaroo is supported by two 

 bones which spring from the front of 

 the pelvis. 



All the kangaroos are confined to 

 Australia, living on the great grassy plains or prairies of 

 the country. The tree kangaroo, as its name indicates, 

 affects trees, eating the leaves and branches, while the 

 rock kangaroo frequents sterile locations. 



Fig, 29. — Hind Leg 

 AND Claws of a 

 Kangaroo. 



