ed the kangaroos. One of the dogs scented something in the
grass, and barked in a manner to attract the attention of his owners.
The men hastened to the spot and found a 'joey,' or baby kangaroo,
which its mother had taken out of her pouch and laid upon the soft
grass, intending to return and pick it up after the danger was over. It
was a pretty little creature, about a foot long, and covered with soft,
silky hair. One of the young men took charge of it and carried it
carefully to the station, his intention being to raise it and make a pet
of it, as he had made pets of the kangaroos that they lost the year
before. When taken at this age, the kangaroo becomes perfectly docile,
and never shows the least desire for a wild life.

"Our host told us that when the kangaroos are hunted, and there is no
water within reach, an 'old man,' if cornered, will place his back
against a tree and sell his life as dearly as possible. It is very
dangerous to go near him when he is thus defending himself, and it is
considered a fortunate circumstance in a fight of this kind if none of
the dogs are killed or injured.

"When the first settlements were made in Australia the kangaroos were
not especially numerous, though they were probably more abundant than
any other animals. Their numbers were kept down by the aboriginals, who
used to hunt them for food and clothing, for which the kangaroo skin was
used, and they were also kept down by the dingoes, or wild dogs. The
dingoes were then abundant, and unhappily they were fond of mutton, and
when sheep were brought to Australia the flocks were very much reduced
by the operations of the wild dogs. Of course, the sheep raisers took
vengeance on the dingoes, and poisoned them in great numbers.

"At the same time, the aboriginals diminished steadily in number, owing
to causes previously stated, and those that remained preferred to live
upon mutton and beef obtained from the settlers rather than take the
trouble of hunting the kangaroo. Thus, the two natural enemies of that
animal were removed, and with their immunity from destruction the
kangaroos increased at a terrific rate. Their flocks and herds blackened
the fields for miles. They were frequently to be seen feeding among the
sheep, and as one kangaroo eats as much grass as three sheep, it will
readily be understood that the sheep farmer's flocks were in danger of
being starved out.

"Millions of acres of land were thus rendered unfit for sheep