375 



GREAT KANGAROO. 



Macropus giganteus. 

 French : Kangourou. German : Kanguruh. 



This large animal is also called the Boomer, Forester,, 

 or Old Man Kangaroo. It appears not to have decreased 

 much since the settlement of the country ; its numbers 

 have certainly been considerably diminished in the prox- 

 imity of towns, but on the other hand its numbers have 

 increased on the sweet pasture and cultivated grounds 

 of the newly-settled districts, and does there a certain 

 amount of damage. It is said in " Marsupial Reptiles " 

 that its increase is due to the destruction of the Dingoes. 

 The Boomer is the most numerous of all the Kangaroos ; 

 the full-grown animal is about 4 to 5 feet high when 

 sitting on its haunches. 



It is hunted by means of dogs, and is very difficult 

 to capture on broken ground on account of the long 



