Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/159

 The lives in Australia. It is usually found in small companies, and always in charge of a leader. The kangaroo was first discovered by Captain Cook, in New South Wales, in 1770, and it is said that when the sailors asked the natives the name of the strange animal they replied, "Kangaroo," which, as a matter of fact, meant in their language, "What do you say?" However, this name has remained unchanged ever since.

The skin of the kangaroo makes very fine leather, and its flesh is good to eat. The native Australians say that it affords the best hunting on the continent. The men ride on horse-back, while a pack of large, fierce hounds follow the kangaroo, which goes over the ground at a curious gait, consisting of a series of immense leaps. Its hind legs are of great size and strength, and when brought to bay the creature defends itself with kicks. The front legs are very small, and do not seem to be of much use except to convey food to the mouth. When a kangaroo is chased by hunters, it has an odd habit of looking back over its shoulder, and instances have been known where it has collided with a tree, and thus brought itself to an untimely end.

Perhaps the most wonderful part of the kangaroo is the pouch in which it carries its young. The baby kangaroo, when first born, is not much over an inch or two in length, and for about eight months it lives in this pouch, until it is strong enough to hop about beside its mother. The doe kangaroo is very watchful of her young, for at the least suspicion of danger, the youngster scrambles into the pouch, and away goes the mother in gigantic leaps. The kangaroo thrives well in England. Quite a number have been brought from Australia, and are now to be seen in some of the parks, hopping about quite comfortably. They breed freely, too, and appear to stand the damp climate very well. When Captain Cook first discovered the kangaroo, they roamed