7 
THE GREAT KANGAROOS (genus Macropus) 
of Queensland number about four species. In height they range from 
four feet to six feet, and in -weight from lOOlbs. up to 2001l)s, the 
males being always larger, heavier and more powciful than the 
females. Their pcculiaHty is the great development of the posterior 
parts of the body and of the tail as compared -wdth the anterior parts. 
Except when lying down, the kangaroo rests with its entire weight 
upon the hinder legs and the tail; when feeding the fore feet are put 
to theground, and while the body is supported by them and the tail, 
the hinder legs are pushed forward both at once; when alarmed the 
animal raises the anterior portion of its body to its full height, and 
when fnghtened it leans forward and hops away by taking tremendous 
jumps, thus bounding over grass, logs, fences, or obstructions. In 
thus jumping, the weight of the animal comes solely upon the two 
elastic and strong tarsi of the hind feet, the tail never touching the 
ground, hut merely by its weight balancing the creature in its rapid 
fliglit. The idea that the kangaroos use their tail to help them when 
■jumping, or as a weapon of offence or defence is entirely erroneous. 
The anterior parts of the kangaroos when seen above the long grass as 
the animal, hy his keen hearing becomes aware of an intruder, appear 
very graceful and deer-like, but this grace is dispelled as soon as 
movement takes place, for, except when flying rapidly before the pur¬ 
suing dog, the movements of the greater kangarooos are decidedly 
ungainly. They ai-e gregarious in their nature, and are frequently 
seen in flocks of from a dozen to one hundred ; hut in districts where 
they are not mucli hunted, the winter’s observations are that they 
prefer to keep in groups of from six to a dozen, and in such a party, 
although the sexes will bo equally divided, there will be one large and 
powerful male, termed by the colonists an “old man.’* He is tlio 
master, and will fight long and desperately with an 3 M*ival who chooses 
to challenge him. "When the family is disturbed, this “ old man ” 
will always he the last to move. 
The kangaroo is perfectly peaceable and harmless to every li\dng 
creature, hut when hunted hy dogs, after fleeing as far as it can go, it 
then tui'ns at bay, and with its back against a tree, or standing up to 
its middle in water, it will fight to the last gasp. Its powers of de¬ 
fence are very great, for with its fore arms and feet, -vvluch though 
apparently small, yet are verv muscular, it can catch up a dog and 
run away with it, or will hold" it under the water until it is drowned; 
or with a stroke from one of its powcifril hind feet, armed as they are 
with a long strong protruding claw, it will rij) the dog completely 
open. It will also, when at hay, not hesitate to attack any man, even 
when on horseback. The extraordinaiy rapid increase in their number 
necessitated the settlers to combine and assist each othci* in the work 
of clearing them from the stock runs. Therefore, driving parties were 
systematically organised, and hy the extensive erection of high 
fencing, with large strongly-fenced yards at the end, thousands of 
these animals were, hy skill and care, driven in and slaughtered. The 
writer was at one such hunt when no less than 3200 grown animals 
