Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/322

1488 off bolted the pademelon, closely followed by the dog in full cry, — another joined in chorus, and the chase approached the margin of the thicket; a black, who for the last ten minutes had been standing motionless on one leg with uplifted arm, suddenly dropped his leg, and, advancing it one pace forward, delivered his spear, but without effect ; now the terrified creature made a desperate bound across the path, but that was his last, for a charge of No. 5 shot cut short his ca- reer at the same moment that a boomerang from the vigorous arm of my neighbour struck the ground close by, and went off whizzing at a tangent, clearing my head by a few inches only. We rushed up in time to save the game from the dogs, when a tremendous report from a neighbouring thicket, followed by a low "cooey," announced that King Tom and his carbine had been no less successful. I had scarcely reloaded, before another pademelon cleared the path at a couple of bounds, — by a short run I cut off an angle and took him in flank, while crossing a small opening. Bang ! went one barrel — missed — bang ! went another, and his hind legs were broken. Before I had my gun ready again he had got into the thicket, — on I rushed beating my way through the bushes, but a long creeper brought me up, and down I went on my face, nearly spraining my wrist while en- deavouring to save my gun. By this time the whole cover had been drawn, and the inmates were scampering about in all directions chased by the dogs; and spears, waddies, and boomerangs were thrown in quick succession, but without much success. Meanwhile, I made my way for a thicket where everything was apparently quiet, and dropping on one knee, soon had the satisfaction of seeing a pademe- lon hopping along, pausing every now and then, sitting upright on his haunches to reconnoitre. Now is the time — the clicking of the lock caught his ear, and he turned his head downwards, preparing for a bound, but it was too late. Silently reloading, I kept the same po- sition, — another and another hopped past, when a right and left stretched them on the ground. Having now obtained as many as I wished, I loaded myself and two lads with the spoil, and, leaving' the blacks still beating the bush for their dinner, trudged slowly home- wards. Three hours afterwards Tom rejoined me with two more pademelons, and sitting down, pipe in mouth, proceeded to skin them with a piece of broken bottle, quite as effective in his hands as a knife.

I now subjoin a brief account of the habits of this interesting ani- mal. It inhabits the thickest brushes, issuing out to the borders and