The Economic Introduction of the Kangaroo in America [pp. 164-169]

The Kangaroo in America.
derous nail. Its coat is composed of
silky hair on the head, the members,
and the tail; and woolly hair on the rest
of the body. Its diet is strictly herbiverous. They live in groups, under the
direction of old males, and they prefer
woody places. The females have one,
at the most two, young at a litter.
"According to circumstances," says
Figuier, from whom we quote, "these
animals walk or leap, and their tail plays
an important part in either case. In
walking they first place their four feet
on the ground; then leaning on those
which are in front, and on their tail
stretched out like a rigid bar, they raise
their hind parts, bringing up at the
same time their two posterior close to
their two anterior legs, and moving the
latter forward, to begin again the same
manceuvre, and so on repeatedly. One
can understand that they cannot move
very quickly in this way; and so they
have recourse to another expedient
when pursued, or when they want to
hop over any obstacle in their way. The
fore-legs then remain unemployed, and
hang idly along the body. Squatting
on its hind legs, the tail stiff and leaning on the ground like a prop, as it does
when the animal is walking, the kangaroo bounds, as if it were propelled forward by a spring, and alights a little
farther on, where it begins the same exercise over again indefinitely till it wishes to stop. The larger species of kangaroo can clear as much as ten metres
in length [about thirty-three feet] at a
single bound; and can jump from two
to three metres in height [seven to ten
feet]. Nothing is more curious than to
see them traversing space with the rapidity of arrows, and like the giants we
read of in mythology receiving fresh
impetus every time they touch the
earth."
The tail of these animals is not only
an apparatus of propulsion, but it also
serves as a defensive weapon. They
have been seen many times, when pursued by dogs, to strike them heavy
blows with their tails. But the greatest
offensive weapon they possess is the
nail of the fourth toe of their hind legs,
already noted. To make use of it, says
Isidore Geoffroy St. Hilaire, the kangaroo stands erect against a tree; leaning
on this with its four paws, it supports
itself with its tail. This tree or any
other obstacle high enough for the purpose is absolutely necessary to it, since,
as it always moves its two hind limbs at
the same time, it cannot lean upon one
and employ the other in fighting. When
a combat takes place between two kangaroos, the adversaries stand up face to
face against each other, "and tear each
other's bellies out, as a couple of Japanese might do." This mode of warfare
among themselves is confined to the
males.
About fifty species of kangaroo are
known, varying greatly in size, from
that of a rat up. They were first discovered in Australia by Cook in I770.
Fossil specimens of gigantic size have
been discovered. Some of these "stupendous," "huge," or " great fossil
beasts" have become extinct within
comparatively recent times.
The flesh of the kangaroo is highly
esteemed and much sought after. The
animal is accordingly an object of sport
with the squatters of Australia, who use
dogs specially trained for the purpose
of hunting them. The animal is remarkable for the great development of
those parts of which the meat is most
esteemed, such as the loins, buttocks,
and thighs. The tail is also said to
make excellent soup. The tails are indeed being imported now into this country for that purpose. Certain species,
moreover,have excellent and very choice
fur. Theleather is a well known article
of commerce now in this country.
II.
NEXT I shall present the very full report furnished to me by and through
the courtesy of my friend, Mr. P. R.
166
[Aug.