ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



is a satisfaction to know that both these world's 

 champions were produced in America, giving 

 assurance that the heritage of the now scattered 

 lofts of Belgium has not been neglected in this 

 country. Grandchildren of both these famous 

 birds are included in the flock recently installed 

 in the New York Zoological Park. Others of 

 almost equally illustrious descent complete the 

 new exhibit, which is proving of great interest 

 to our visitors. 



Automatic selection, operating through the 

 medium of severe trials of flight, will leave us 

 only the best individuals at the beginning of the 

 next breeding season, when the product of our 



loft will be placed at the disposal of the Gov- 

 ernment. Especial thanks are due to Mr. F. C. 

 Schmidt, secretary of the United Homing 

 Pigeon Concourse, of Greater New York, for 

 much valuable advice in our newest undertaking. 



Particular interest in the Pigeon Section of 

 the Signal Corps will be taken by members of 

 the Zoological Society when it is known that 

 two keepers of the Department of Birds, Louis 

 Wahl and William Smead, recently have joined 

 its ranks. Corporal T. Donald Carter, until re- 

 cently one of our keepers of birds, is now in 

 France in the same branch of the service. 



AUSTRALIA'S MOST REMARKABLE MAMMALS 



Based ox the Collections of the 



New York Zoological Park. 



PART II. 



By W. H. D. Le Souef, 



Director of the Zoolof/ical Gardens, Melbourne. 



Author of "The Mammals of Australia." "Wild Life of Australia," etc. 



THE KANGAROOS 



ALL kangaroos have more or less the same 

 habits and are usually found in small com- 

 panies in country where they are not dis- 

 turbed. They are protected for the whole year 

 in Victoria and soon increase if undisturbed. 

 Partial protection is given them in New South 

 Wales, but not in Queensland, except in certain 

 districts. The number of skins annually sent to 

 other countries from Australia, especially from 

 Queensland, runs into many thousands. Of this 

 number, the United States receives a large 

 share; sometimes over 80.000 in one year. 



Many men make their living entirely by 

 shooting kangaroos with a rifle; one man I know 

 having shot over 4-00 last year (1917). This 

 means that in the course of comparatively a tew 

 vears, these interesting animals will become 

 verv scarce, as the skins of all species, including 

 wallaby, are used for leather. The introduction 

 of the fox into Australia will not help matters 

 as they are sure to kill some of the young ones. 

 These animals fortunately live and breed freely 

 in confinement, having one young one at birth, 

 although twins have been known to occur 

 occasionally. 



They are hunted on horseback with the aid 

 of a large dog of the grey-hound type, known 

 as a kangaroo dog, and if the country should 

 be sufficiently open, they usually are caught and 



refuge in a river or in swamps where they stand 

 waist deep in the water awaiting their enemies. 

 Should a dog swim out to them, they will hold 

 it under water with their fore arms and eventu- 

 ally drown the venturesome animal. When 

 attacked on land, the old males that are not as 

 speedy as the females, often stand with their 

 back to a tree ready to fight with the dogs ; and 

 they are usually quite a match for any single 

 dog. Young kangaroos are often caught and 

 reared by hand, when their mother has been 

 shot or otherwise killed. Their backs are easily 

 damaged if roughly handled. When leaning 

 forward to feed on short grass, they often rest 

 on the upper part of their paws, as well as on 

 the under part in the ordinary way. When in 

 this position, the young that may be in the 

 pouch, and old enough, can nibble on the grass 

 at the same time. 



Kangaroos are diligently sought for their 

 skins, and although they are well protected in 

 Victoria, and to a certain extent in other parts 

 of Australia, their numbers are diminishing. A 

 small, slender species, Parry^s Kangaroo, (M. 

 parryii) is found in the billy coastal districts 

 of Queensland and northern parts of New 

 South Wales. The short, soft and light bluish- 

 grey fur marked with a white line on each side 

 of its face as well as on the neck, and long, thin 

 tail, have suggested its local names the Pretty- 

 Face or Whip-Tail Kangaroo. It usually fre- 



killed. When hard pressed, they often will take quents scrubby country and often may be seen 



