A Kangaroo Hunt 



the various species of wallaby, wallaroo, 

 etc., it may be stated in general terms that 

 the true kangaroo, the fellow to whom 

 the term belongs par excellence, is the one 

 known to naturalists as the Macropus gigan- 

 teus. This is a smooth-haired, mouse-col- 

 ored animal, which usually stands about six 

 feet high, and only very occasionally attains 

 to the proportions of its Queensland cousin. 

 The word "stand," employed in the pre- 

 ceding sentence, is used advisedly, and is 

 intended to carry the fullest and most ex- 

 act meaning of the term ; for another 

 singular characteristic of the kangaroo is 

 this biped habit. Save when feeding or 

 lying down, it always maintains an upright 

 position, and the small fore-paws, which 

 closely resemble a pair of diminutive 

 hands, are never used as a means of pro- 

 gression. This peculiarity of the kangaroo 

 (added to another of which I shall have 

 to speak farther on) renders it one of the 

 most difficult animals in the world to stalk 

 successfully ; for in every feeding herd 

 there is sure to be at least one vigilant 

 " old man " always standing upon guard, 

 and his upright position, of course, enables 

 him to survey the whole horizon round 

 about him, and to note any unusual object 

 long before it could approach within decent 



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