extended at length behind the body. 

 This position enables them to take 

 flight instantly. 



The kangaroo leaps only on its hinder 

 legs, but its bounds surpass those of 

 any other animal in length. It presses 

 its fore limbs tightly against the chest, 

 stretches the tail straight out back- 

 wards, thrusts the long and slender 

 hind legs against the ground with all 

 the force of the powerful thigh mus- 

 cles, and darts like an arrow through 

 the air in a low curve. The leaps fol- 

 low in immediate succession, and each 

 is at least nine feet, but the larger spe- 

 cies cover, not infrequently, from 

 twenty to thirty-three feet at a bound, 

 the height of each leap being from six 

 to ten feet. Few hounds can keep 

 pace with a kangaroo. 



The kangaroo rarely gives birth to 

 more than one young at a time. When 

 the young one is born the mother takes 

 it up with her mouth, opens the pouch 

 with both fore feet, and attaches the 

 little creature to the breast. Twelve 

 hours after birth it has a length of only 

 a little over one and one-fifth inches. 

 Its eyes are closed, its ears and nostrils 

 are only indicated, the limbs yet un- 

 formed. There is not the slightest re- 

 semblance between it and the mother. 

 For nearly eight mon,ths it is nourished 

 exclusively in the pouch. A consider- 

 able time after it first peeps out of the 

 pouch the young one occasionally 

 leaves its refuge and roams about near 

 its mother, but for a long time it flees 

 back to the pouch whenever it appre- 

 hends any danger. It approaches its 

 mother with long bounds and dives 



headlong into the half-open pouch of. 

 the quietly sitting female. 



Numerous methods are employed to 

 exterminate the animals; they are shot 

 with fire-arms or coursed to death by 

 hounds, and that for very wantonness, 

 for the slain bodies are left to rot in 

 the woods. "That is the reason," says 

 an anonymous writer, "why the kan- 

 garoos are already exterminated in the 

 environs of all larger cities and settle- 

 ments; and if this savage chase is per- 

 mitted to continue, it will not be long 

 ere they will be numbered among the 

 rarer animals in the interior also." 



The kangaroo readily resigns itself 

 to confinement, and is easily main- 

 tained on hay, green fodder, turnips, 

 grain, bread, and similar articles of 

 food. It does not require a specially 

 warm shelter in winter and breeds read- 

 ily if given proper care. At present it 

 is more rarely seen in confinement in 

 Europe and America than when it was 

 more numerous and easier to capture 

 in its native country. With good treat- 

 ment it survives a long time; speci- 

 mens have lived in Europe from ten to 

 twenty-five years. 



The kangaroos are very dull in in- 

 tellect, even sheep being far superior to 

 them in this respect. Anything out of 

 the accustomed order confuses them, 

 for they are not capable of a rapid com- 

 prehension of new surroundings. Every 

 impression they receive becomes clear 

 to them only gradually. Brehm says a 

 captive kangaroo becomes used to man 

 in general, but expresses doubt whether 

 it discriminates between its keeper and 

 other people. 



INVITATION TO THE REDBREAST. 



Sweet bird, whom the winter constrains — 



And seldom another it can — 

 To seek a retreat — while he reigns 



In the well-shelter'd dwellings of man, 

 Who never can seem to intrude, 



Though in all places equally free, 

 Come, oft as the season is rude, 



Thou art sure to be welcome to me. 



At sight of the first feeble ray. 



That pierces the clouds of the east, 

 To inveigle thee every day 



My windows shall show thee a feast. 

 For, taught by experience, I know 



Thee mindful of benefit long; 

 And that, thankful for all I bestow, 



Thou wilt pay me with many a song. 



Then, soon as the swell of the buds 



Bespeaks the renewal of spring. 

 Fly hence, if thou wilt, to the woods. 



Or where it shall please thee to sing: 

 And shouldst thou, compell'd by a frost, 



Come again to my window or door, 

 Doubt not an affectionate host, 



Only pay, as thou pay'dst me before. 



Thus music must needs be contest 



To flow from a fountain above; 

 Else how should it work in the breast 



Unchangeable friendship and love? 

 And who on the globe can be found, 



Save your generation and ours. 

 That can be delighted by sound. 



Or boasts any musical powers? — Cowper, 



