The Kangaroo. 85 



fore legs, or rather paws, are short and weak, with five 

 toes, each ending in a strong curved claw. The hind 

 legs, on the contrary, are very large and strong, but the 

 feet have only four toes, and much weaker claws. The 

 tail is very long and tapering ; but is so thick and strong 

 near the body, that it forms a kind of third hind leg, and 

 wonderfully assists the animal in supporting itself in its 

 ordinary upright position. Its leaps are of extraordinary 

 extent, being often from twenty to thirty feet in length, 

 and six or eight feet high. When the animal is attacked, 

 it uses its tail as a powerful instrument of defence, and 

 also scratches violently with its hind feet. It generally 

 sits upright, but brings its fore feet to the ground when 

 it is grazing. It lives entirely on vegetable substances. 

 The most curious part of the Kangaroo is the pouch 

 which the female has in front for carrying her young. 

 It is just below her breast, and the young ones sit there 

 to suck ; and even when they are old enough to leave 

 the pouch, take refuge in it whenever they are alarmed. 



The Kangaroo is easily tamed, and there are many in 

 a tame state in England. In Australia, Kangaroo beef, 

 as it is called, is eaten, and found very nourishing ; but 

 it is hard and coarse. The female has generally two 

 young ones at a time, which do not attain their full 

 growth until they are a year old. 



When a large Kangaroo is pursued by dogs, it generally 

 takes refuge in a pond, where, from the great length of 

 its hind legs and tail, it can stand with its body half out 

 of the water, while the dogs are obliged to swim. Thus 

 the Kangaroo has a decided advantage ; for, as each dog 

 approaches him, he seizes it with his fore paws, and 

 holds it under water, shaking it furiously till the dog is 

 almost suffocated, and very glad to sneak off as soon as 

 the Kangaroo lets him go. 



The female, when pursued and hard-pressed by the 

 dogs, will, while making her bounds, put her fore paws 

 into her pouch, take a young one from it, and throw it 

 as far out of sight as she possibly can. But for this 

 manoeuvre, her own life and that of her young one 

 would be sacrificed ; whereas, she frequently contrives to 

 escape, and returns afterwards to seek for her offspring. 



