extended at length behind the body. 
This position enables them to take 
flight instantly. 
The kangaroo leaps only on its hinder 
legs, but its bounds surpass those of 
any other animal in length. It presses 
its fore limbs tightly against the chest, 
stretches the tail straight out back- 
wards, thrusts the long and slender 
hind legs against the ground with all 
the force of the powerful thigh mus- 
cles, and darts like an arrow through 
the air in a low curve. The leaps fol- 
low in immediate succession, and each 
is at least nine feet, but the larger spe- 
cies cover, not infrequently, from 
twenty to thirty-three feet at a bound, 
the height of each leap being from six 
to ten feet. Few hounds can keep 
pace with a kangaroo. 
The kangaroo rarely gives birth to 
more than one young at a time. When 
the young one is born the mother takes 
it up with her mouth, opens the pouch 
with both fore feet, and attaches the 
little creature to the breast. Twelve 
hours after birth it has a length of only 
a little over one and one-fifth inches. 
Its eyes are closed, its ears and nostrils 
are only indicated, the limbs yet un- 
formed. There is not the slightest re- 
semblance between it and the mother. 
For nearly eight months it is nourished 
exclusively in the pouch. A consider- 
able time after it first peeps out of the 
pouch the young one occasionally 
leaves its refuge and roams about near 
its mother, but for a long time it flees 
back to the pouch whenever it appre- 
hends any danger. It approaches its 
mother with long bounds and dives 
headlong into the half-open pouch of 
the quietly sitting female. 
Numerous methods are employed to 
exterminate the animals; they are shot 
with fire-arms or coursed to death by 
hounds, and that for very wantonness, 
for the slain bodies are left to rot in 
the woods. "That is the reason," says 
an anonymous writer, "why the kan- 
garoos are already exterminated in the 
environs of all larger cities and settle- 
ments; and if this savage chase is per- 
mitted to continue, it will not be long 
ere they will be numbered among the 
rarer animals in the interior also." 
The kangaroo readily resigns itself 
to confinement, and is easily main- 
tained on hay, green fodder, turnips, 
grain, bread, and similar articles of 
food. It does not require a specially 
warm shelter in winter and breeds read- 
ily if given proper care. At present it 
is more rarely seen in confinement in 
Europe and America than when it was 
more numerous and easier to capture 
in its native country. With good treat- 
ment it survives a long time; speci- 
mens have lived in Europe from ten to 
twenty-five years. 
The kangaroos are very dull in in- 
tellect, even sheep being far superior to 
them in this respect. Anything out of 
the accustomed order confuses them, 
for they are not capable of a rapid com- 
prehension of new surroundings. Every 
impression they receive becomes clear 
to them only gradually. Brehm says a 
captive kangaroo becomes used to man 
in general, but expresses doubt whether 
it discriminates between its keeper and 
other people. 
INVITATION TO THE REDBREAST. 
Sweet bird, whom the winter constrains — 
And seldom another it can — 
To seek a retreat— while he reigns 
In the well-shelter'd dwellings of man, 
Who never can seem to intrude, 
Though in all places equally free, 
Come, oft as the season is rude, 
Thou art sure to be welcome to me. 
At sight of the first feeble ray, 
That pierces the clouds of the east, 
To inveigle thee every day 
My windows shall show thee a feast. 
For, taught by experience, I know 
Thee mindful of benefit long; 
And that, thankful for all I bestow, 
Thou wilt pay me with many a song. 
Then, soon as the swell of the buds 
Bespeaks the renewal of spring, 
Fly hence, if thou wilt, to the woods, 
Or where it shall please thee to sing: 
And shouldst thou, compell'd by a frost, 
Come again to my window or door, 
Doubt not an affectionate host, 
Only pay, as thou pay'dst me before. 
Thus music must needs be confest 
To flow from a fountain above; 
Flse how should it work in the breast 
Unchangeable friendship and love? 
And who on the globe can be found, 
Save your generation and ours, 
That can be delighted by sound, 
Or boasts any musical powers? — Cowper. 
