REMINISCENCES FROM THE MELBOURNE ZOO. 
155 
tried to wipe it away with the back of his hands, and thus he rubbed 
it into his eyes and half-blinded himself. 
At once the duel resolved itself into: 
“Punch said to Judy: ‘Will you fight any more?’ 
‘Oh, no!’ said Judy, ‘My eyes are too sore!’” 
The old man took advantage of the pause to get out of the paddock 
as quickly as he could run, even leaving his broken pipe behind him; 
but there was really no need of such haste, for the kangaroo was other- 
wise engaged, and the old man’s “subsequent proceedings interested 
him no more.” 
UNEQUALLY MATCHED. 
A red kangaroo, not so very long ago, gave a mighty leap and got 
into his neighbor’s domains. This neighbor was a great grey kangaroo, 
and as the two had not been on the best of terms for some time, through 
the dividing fence, they thought this was an excellent opportunity of 
having the quarrel out. Although the red had not as fine a physique 
as the grey one, he proved himself to be a notable fighter, and the two 
gave a magnificent display of boxing. Weight and height told in favor 
of the grey one at length, and when they were separated the red was still 
quite game, though obviously tired. He was put back in his own com- 
pound, and an examination failed to reveal anything more than a few 
ugly scratches. Next morning, to the surprise of all, he was found 
dead. The head keeper skinned him to discover the cause of death, and 
he called to Mr. Wilkie in astonishment. 
“Why, it wasn’t the fight that killed him. He’s been shot clean 
through the forehead.” 
Mr. Wilkie laughed at such a supposition, but there was the clean 
round wound in the skull that could not be gainsaid. 
“Open up the head,” he said, “and find the bullet. It’s been a fine 
shot.” 
A minute search failed to show any trace of a bullet, and more- 
over, less than half-an-inch inside there was no further trace of the 
injury. Closer investigation showed that the skin had been torn, not 
shot, and then they understood that the long, prominent middle claw 
of his opponent’s hind foot had penetrated right through the skull and 
had been his death blow. The wound had not caused instant uncon- 
sciousness, nor had it bled, but it must have caused death fairly quickly, 
for it was sundown when they fought, and he was cold and stiff next 
