MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES 



347 



A run of eighteen miles, with a swim of two in the sea at the finish, and all within the 

 space of two brief crowded hours, is one of the interesting records chronicled. The quarry, 

 when brought to bay, is, moreover, a by no means despicable foe. Erect on its haunches, 

 with its back against a tree, the dogs approach it at their peril, as, with a stroke of its 

 powerful spur-armed hind foot, it will with facility disembowel or otherwise fatally maim 

 its assailant. Another favourite refuge of the hunted " boomer " is a shallow water-hole, 

 wherein, wading waist-deep, it calmly awaits its pursuers' onslaught. On the dogs swimming 

 out to the attack, it will seize them with its hand-like fore paws, thrust them under water, 

 and, if their rescue is not speedily effected, literally drown them. Even man, without the 

 aid of firearms, is liable to be worsted in an encounter under these conditions, as is evidenced 

 in the following anecdote. 



A newly arrived settler from the old country, or more precisely from the sister island, 

 ignorant of the strength and prowess of the wily marsupial, essayed his maiden kangaroo 

 hunt with only a single dog as company. A fine grey boomer was in due course started, 

 and after an exciting chase was cornered in a water-hole. The dog, rushing after it, was 

 promptly seized and clucked ; and Pat, irate at the threatened drowning of his companion, 

 fired, but missed his quarry, and thereupon jumped into the water-hole, with the intention, 

 as he afterwards avowed, " to bate the brains out of the baste " with the butt-end of his gun. 

 The kangaroo, however, very soon turned the tables upon Pat. Before he had time to realise 

 the seriousness of the situation he found himself lifted off his feet, and soused and hustled 

 with such vigour that both Pat and his dog most narrowly escaped a watery grave. A couple 

 of neighbours, by good luck passing that way, observed the turmoil, and came to the rescue. 



Fbtu bj If. Riid 



TASMANIAN WALLABY 



Has softer and thicker fur than its relative of the Australian mainland 



