. The popular natural history . Zoology. 114 THE KANGAROO. length, and the difference in size is so great that the two sexes might be well taken for different species. The weight of a full-grown male, or " Boomer,'' as it is more familiarly called, is very considerable, one hundred and sixty pounds having often been attained, and even greater weight being on record. The colour of the animal is brown, mingled with grey, the grey predominating on the under portions of the body and the under-faces of the limbs. The fore-feet are black, as is also the tip of the tail. As the Kangaroo is a val
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 114 THE KANGAROO. length, and the difference in size is so great that the two sexes might be well taken for different species. The weight of a full-grown male, or " Boomer,'' as it is more familiarly called, is very considerable, one hundred and sixty pounds having often been attained, and even greater weight being on record. The colour of the animal is brown, mingled with grey, the grey predominating on the under portions of the body and the under-faces of the limbs. The fore-feet are black, as is also the tip of the tail. As the Kangaroo is a valuable animal, not only for the sake of its skin, but on account of its flesh, which is in some estimation among the human inhabitants of the same land, it is eagerly sought after by hunters, both white and black, and affords good sport to both on account of its speed, its vigour, and its wariness. The native hunter, who trusts chiefly to his own curming and address for stealing unobserved upon the animal and lodging a spear in its body before it is able to elude its subtle enemy, finds the Kangaroo an animal which will test all his powers before he can attam his object, and lay the Kangaroo dead upon he ground. The male Kangaroo, or " Boomer," is a dangerous antagonist to man and dog, and unless destroyed by missile weapons will often prove more than a mat. h for the combined efforts of man and beast. When the animal finds that it is overpowered in endeavour by the swift and powerful Kangaroo dogs, which are bred for the ex- press purpose of chasing this one kind of prey, it turns suddenly to bay, and placing its back against a tree-trunk, so that it cannot be attacked from behind, patiently awaits the onset of its adversaries. Should an unwary dog approach within too close a distance of the Kangaroo, the animal launches so terrible a blow with its hinder feet, that the long and pointed claw, with which the hinder foot is armed, cuts like a knife, and has often laid o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
