348 



The Living Animals of the World 



Between them they beat off and killed the kangaroo, and dragged Pat to land in a half- 

 drowned and almost insensil.le condition. Pat recovered, and vowed " niver to meddle with 



such big bastes " again. , , x ■ n 



The doe kangaroos, while of smaller size and possessing much less staymg power than 

 their mates, can nevertheless afford a good run for horses and dogs, and are commonly known 

 as "flyers" When carrying a voungster. or '"Joey," in her pouch, and hard pressed by the 

 do-s it is a common thin g^ for the parent to abstract her offspring from the pouch with her 

 fo"e paws and to throw ^it aside into the bush. The instinct of self-preservation only, by 

 the discharcre of hampering impedimenta, is usually ascribed to this act ; but it is an open 

 question whether the maternal one of securing a chance of escape for her young, while feeling 

 powerless to accomplish it for herself, does not more often represent the actual condition of 



the case. ,. . , , n 



In proportion to the size of its body the kangaroo yields but a limited amount of meat 

 that is esteemed for food. The tail represents the most highly r.ppreciated portion, smce from 

 it can be compounded a soup not only equal to ordinary ox-tail, but by gourmands considered 



so superior that its conservation and export 

 have proved a successful trade enterprise. 

 The loins also are much esteemed for the 

 table, Imt the hind limbs are hard and coarse, 

 and only appreciated by the native when 

 rations are abnormally short. '" Steamer,'' 

 composed of kangaroo-flesh mixed with slices 

 of ham, represented a standing and very 

 popular dish with the earlier Australian 

 settlers ; but with the rapid disappearance of 

 the animal before the advance of colonisation 

 this one time common concoction possesses 

 at the present day a greater traditional than 

 actual reputation. 



The hunting of the kangaroo is con- 

 ^t^^ ducted on several distinct lines, the method 

 of its pursuit being varied, according to 

 whether the animal is required for the 

 primary object of food, for the commercial 

 value of its skin, as a matter of pure 

 sport, or to accomplish its wholesale destruc- 

 tion in consequence of its encroachments on 

 the pasturage required for sheep- and cattle-grazing. 



The greatest measure of healthy excitement in hunting the kangaroo, from tiie standpoint 

 of pure s])ort, is no doubt to be obtained when running the marsupial down with horse and 

 hounds in congenial company, as referred to on a previous page. The stalking of the animal 

 single-handed on horseliack or on foot, much after the manner of the deer, has also its 

 enthusiastic votaries, and calls into play the greatest amount of patience and snvoir-faire on 

 the part of the sjioitsman. It has been affirmed by a (Queensland writer, " To kill kangaroos 

 witli a stalking-horse requires the practice of a lifetime, and few 'new chums' have the 

 patience to learn it. It is, in fact, only stockmen, black-fellows, and natives of the bush who 

 can by this method expect to make kangaroo-shooting pay." The horse which is successfully 

 employed by experienced ]:)ushinen for stalking purposes is specially trained to its work, and, 

 walking ajiparently unconcernedly in the direction of the selected quarry, brings the gunners, 

 if they are experts in the art of keeping themselves well concealed, within easy range. In 

 this manner two or three kangaroos are not infrequently shot in the same stalk, the animals 

 having a tendency, on hearing the report of the gun, but not locating the direction from which 



l.MJIjv 



K4< 



Hiillo hil D. U .Vjui./'] 



ALBINO KED-BELLIED WALLABY. 



Many of tlie Marsupials, including Kangaroos and the (jpotisuni-like 



PliaHngers, exhibit a tenjeney to albinism. 



