206 



BEARS AND KANGAROOS. 



his predecessor, in those short arms, and ripped to 

 :.. shreds by the hind legs, that are provided with 

 *S claws as effective as bowie-knives. 



"I was somewhat bewildered by the sounds of my 

 dogs, not feeling sure what they meant. I supposed 

 they were able to take care of themselves, but thought 

 it prudent to hurry and learn how they were making out 

 " I dismounted, and had penetrated only a short dis- 

 tance in the timber, when, to my surprise, I caught sight 

 of the kangaroo, who was returning over his own trail, 

 by a series of moderate jumps. I stopped short, and he 

 did not see me until within a couple of rods. Then, 

 instead cf turning aside, as I expected him to do, 

 he put on more steam and came directly for me, 

 making a tremendous bound that carried him over 

 my head. I was so startled that he came near 

 escaping altogether, but I dropped him just before 

 he reached the open plain. I might have spared 

 him, if I hadn't been so angry over the loss of my 

 dogs. 



" Some time later I shot the female, who had two 

 vigorous, partly grown young ones, which I sent to 

 Mr. Barnum. They grew into fine large fellows, 

 which traveled thousands of miles over the country 

 A LEAP FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. w ith him." 



The emu is another interesting curiosity whose 



home is in Central Australia. It is very fleet of foot and resembles the ostrich in 

 many respects. The dogs which are trained to hunt it, wait until it is exhausted 

 before attacking, when they spring at its throat, thus avoiding its dreaded kicks, 

 which are delivered sideways and backwards, instead of forward, as is the case 

 with the ostrich. 



The height of the emu sometimes exceeds six feet and it is a good swimmer. 

 It is hunted so persistently that it is dying off rapidly, and in a few years will prob- 

 ably be extinct, like the famed dodo, and also the bison of our own country. 



The fierce native dogs of Australia, known as dingoes, follow the same method 

 as the trained dogs in running down the emu, which fights them in vain. 



