KANGAROO HUNTING. 181 



for the dogs, for running up hill is the kangaroo's weak point. 

 But now we lose sight of both dogs and kangaroo ; a burst 

 of three. minutes has sufficed to exhaust our first wind, and to 

 break one of our shins ; for, tearing through grass as high as 

 one's middle and tumbling over charred stumps and fallen 

 trees, soon reduces one to the " dead-beat" predicament. Jerry, 

 alone, thanks to his hard condition, follows the chase, longo 

 inter vallo. 



All the party are now scattered, and after a while re-assem- 

 ble by dint of continuous " cooees." Whilst swabbing the per- 

 spiration off our brow, one of the dogs makes his appearance, 

 and, trotting slowly back with panting flanks and lolling 

 tongue, throws himself on his side exhausted. His mouth is 

 now carefully examined, and two fingers being inserted, scoop 

 round the fauces. The test is successful ; there are traces of 

 blood and fluff. " Bravo, Rattler ! Show him good dog. Show 

 him !" Battler rises with an effort, and lazily strikes into 

 the bush, to the right. We follow in Indian file, and at about 

 half a mile distant we come upon the kangaroo lying dead, 

 with the second dog, old " Ugly," stretched at his side. 



The kangaroo usually found in the Peninsula is not the 

 largest description commonly known in these colonies as the 

 " boomer" or " forester," but the brush kangaroo, which rarely 

 exceeds seventy pounds in weight ; forty is more common. 

 There is a still smaller variety known as the " wallaby." The 

 brush kangaroo is easily killed by the dogs : A grip in the 

 throat or loins usually suffices. The boomer is a more awkward 

 customer, and, if he can take the water, he shows fight, and, 

 availing himself of his superior height, he endeavors to drown 

 the dogs as they approach him. The kangaroo is a graceful 

 animal, but appears to most advantage when only the upper 

 part of the body is seen. His head is small and deer-shaped, 

 his eyes soft and lustrous, but his tapering superior extrem- 

 ities rise almost pyramidally from a heavy and disproportioned 

 base of hind legs and tail. 



16 



