The Kangaroo. 80 
fore legs, or rather paws, are short and weak, with five 
toes, each ending in a strong curved claw. The hind 
legs, on the contrary, are very large and strong, but the 
feet have only four toes, and much weaker claws. The 
tail is very long and tapering ; but is so thick and strong- 
near the body, that it forms a kind of third hind leg, and 
wonderfully assists the animal in supporting itself in its 
ordinary upright position. Its leaps are of extraordinary 
extent, being often from twenty to thirty feet in length, 
and six or eight feet high. When the animal is attacked, 
it uses its tail as a powerful instrument of defence, and 
also scratches violently with its hind feet. It generally 
sits upright, but brings its fore feet to the ground when 
it is grazing. It lives entirely on vegetable substances. 
The most curious part of the Kangaroo is the pouch 
which the female has in front for carrying her young. 
It is just below her breast, and the young ones sit there 
to suck ; and even when they are old enough to leave 
the pouch, take refuge in it whenever they are alarmed. 
The Kangaroo is easily tamed, and there are many in 
a tame state in England. In Australia, Kangaroo beef, 
as it is called, is eaten, and found very nourishing ; but 
it is hard and coarse. The female has generally two 
young ones at a time, which do not attain their full 
growth until they are a year old. 
When a large Kangaroo is pursued by dogs, it generally 
takes refuge in a pond, where, from the great length of 
its hind legs and tail, it can stand with its body half out 
of the water, while the dogs are obliged to swim. Thus 
the Kangaroo has a decided advantage ; for, as each dog 
approaches him, he seizes it with his fore paws, and 
holds it under water, shaking it furiously till the dog is 
almost suffocated, and very glad to sneak off as soon as 
the Kangaroo lets him go. 
The female, when pursued and hard-pressed by the 
dogs, will, while making her bounds, put her fore paws 
into her pouch, take a young one from it, and throw it 
as far out of sight as she possibly can. But for this 
manoeuvre, her own life and that of her young one 
would be sacrificed; whereas, she frequently contrives to 
escape, and returns afterwards to seek for her offspring. 
