GREAT GREY KANGAROO. 85 
thet With singly or in pairs. Mr. R. C. Gunn states that ‘‘ although 
from the circumstance of its food being abundant on certain spots, 
as on recently burnt land, it may be seen in flocks; it is not 
gregarious ; their food brings them to one spot, but on no occasion 
have I ever known them in flocks, owning a leader and proceeding 
en masse as all other wild animals do.” Mr. Gilbert, speaking of 
Western Australia, says :—‘‘ Mr. Gunn’s remarks will not at all 
apply to the kangaroos of this country, for I have seen hundreds of 
instances, in which the whole herd has followed the leading one en 
masse unless divided by the dogs.” The does take the lead, the 
males from their greater weight being unable to keep up with them, 
the latter often bring up the rear. In Tasmania the kangaroos 
lodge during the heat of the day among high ferns, high grass and 
in underwood, commonly called scrub, and on the margin of streams. 
The senses of smelling and hearing are so exquisite that it is extremely 
difficult of approach without detection, and to effect this it is 
always necessary to advance against the wind. The kangaroo is 
hunted and frequently killed by the dingo, but its most formid- 
able antagonist was the aboriginal till the foundation of the colonies. 
The blacks employ several modes of obtaining it. Sometimes they 
steal upon it with the utmost caution under covert of the trees and 
bushes until it is within the range of the spear, which is generally 
thrown with unerring aim. At other times the natives having dis- 
covered their retreat, unite in a party, and, forming a circle, 
gradually close in upon them with shouts and yells, by which the 
animals are so terrified and confused that they easily become victims 
to the boomerangs, clubs and spears which are directed against them 
from all sides. Destructive as the aboriginal may have been, the 
kangaroo finds at the present time a far greater foe in the white 
man, who, independently of fire-arms, brings to his aid dogs of 
superior breed, and of so sayage a nature that it has but little chance 
when opposed to them. These dogs, which run by sight, partake of 
the nature of the greyhound and deerhound, and from their great 
strength and fleetness are so well adapted for the duties to which 
they are trained that the escape of the kangaroo, when this occurs, 
is owing perhaps to the oppressive heat of the day, or the nature of 
the ground On rough places the females, in particular, will 
frequently outstrip the fleetest dogs ; but on soft ground heavy old 
males are easily overtuken. ‘Three or four dogs are generally em- 
ployed—one of superior fleetness to ‘* pull” the kangaroo, while the 
others rush in and kill it. ‘The finest specimens are styled 
‘boomers ;” a tolerably good one will give a run of from six to ten 
miles; these often leap straight away, but the weaker ones travel a 
large ring back to the place where they were found. The length 
of the jump of a boomer, which had gone on a beach, and left foot- 
prints in the sand, was found to be just fifteen feet. ; 
Uses. —The skin is tanned into excellent Jeather. What is known 
as the enamelled kangaroo leather for children’s and women’s boots, 
&c., was first introduced in the Sydney markets. ‘The first consign- 
ment of selected and pickled skins to the markets of London, Paris, 
