THE KANGAROO 435 



danger threatens, and it is remarkable how adroitly an old 

 doe will gather up her young one while she herself is in 

 full flight. 



Big males are called by the colonials ' Boomer/ ' Forester/ 

 or ' Old Man.' A female, especially before she has borne 

 young, is called a ' Flying Doe ' ; while a young one carried 

 by the mother is known as ' Joey.' 



A Kangaroo hunt is an exciting sport, in which the 

 animal displays astonishing pace and staying power. 

 British foxhounds would be useless in the chase, for 

 which are engaged a special breed of greyhounds called 

 Kangaroo dogs. 



All Kangeroos are timid, and at the least token of danger 

 seek safety in flight ; but when brought to bay a full-grown 

 male is no mean opponent. Woe betide the dog that comes 

 within reach of the great claw, for its hunting days will end 

 with one stroke of the knife-like weapon. If the ' Boomer ' 

 can reach water he will enter it up to his shoulders, and 

 await the approach of a dog, which he will seize in his 

 fore paws and hold under water until it is drowned. Even 

 a man will come to grief badly if the desperate animal can 

 take hold of him. 



The female displays less powers of flight and less 

 courage at close quarters. She always seeks cover, and 

 by powerful leaps to the side endeavours to throw the 

 dogs off the scent. When very hard pressed she will fling 

 her young one into the bushes as she hurtles along. 

 This action is often viewed as an effort at self-preserva- 

 tion in sailor parlance 'lightening the ship/ Upon the 

 other hand, it may be only evidence of the mother's 

 affection for her offspring, merely a desire to give it an 

 opportunity of escape, when for herself there remains no 

 single loophole. 



The Great Grey Kangaroo, like all its near relations, is 

 entirely herbivorous. It is gregarious, and herds of from 

 thirty to fifty made inroads on grass pastures that greatly 

 displeased the early Australian sheep-farmers. Apart from 

 this, the flesh of the Kangaroo is greatly esteemed ; in fact, 

 the animal was formerly to the aborigines what the bison 

 was to the red man or the seal still is to the Eskimo. The 



