red miles from
Melbourne due east to Sale--a remarkably pleasant town of between three
and four thousand inhabitants, situated on the Gippsland railroad--takes
one to the region where these immense forest giants are to be seen, and
at the same time introduces the traveller to some of the finest scenery
in the mountain range of this district.

It is in this neighborhood that one finds the kangaroo in his wild
state; but a good local guide is necessary to insure success in the
search for these animals. Though the kangaroo, like everything else
aboriginal, is gradually disappearing in Australia, the onslaught and
ceaseless war which is waged against the wild dog, the only enemy except
man which the kangaroo has to fear, leaves the latter a chance even for
increase in some districts, as we found to be the case in Queensland. It
is calculated that one kangaroo eats as much grass and consumes as much
food generally as do five sheep, and consequently he is looked upon as
an enemy, to be hunted with the one idea of exterminating him
altogether. In roaming the woods one is almost sure to fall in with more
or less of these animals. They are usually found sitting upright in
circles of a dozen or more, as grave as though engaged in holding a
formal council. Their short fore-paws hang limp before them, while their
restless heads and delicate ears turn hither and thither in watchful
care against surprise. Notwithstanding their huge paunch, big
hind-quarters, and immense tail, there is something graceful and
attractive about these creatures, even with all their proverbial
awkwardness. When they are young they are as playful as kittens. Even
when running away from pursuit,--a process performed by enormous leaps,
often covering a rod at each flying jump,--there is a certain airy grace
and harmony of movement attending their motions. Dogs and horses have
more power of endurance than the kangaroo, and are thus enabled to run
them down; but neither horse nor dog can achieve the same degree of
speed for moderate distances. If the chase occurs in a wood where there
are numerous obstacles, like heavy logs, the kangaroo is safe, since he
can surmount all such impediments without diminution of speed.

In the forest glades of Victoria one becomes acquainted with some of the
most interesting of the birds of Australia. It is said that very many of
those which are now abundant are not indigenous, but have been
introduced from time to time by the n