1.A hundred years ago the kangaroo was unknown in this country，and if any one had given a description of the animal，it would likely have been laughed at，as are the descriptions of the great sea-serpent which we sometimes read at the present day.But Australia is the land of animal-puzzles，and today no one thinks itstrange that we should find there a quadrupeddoes not walk on four legs.
2.The kangaroo is one of the class of animals called marsupial，or pouched.That is to say，the female has in front of her body a kind of pouch in which her little one is kept safe and carried about.The young one is very small at first，and lives on milk alone，never leaving the pouch；but after a few months it begins to leave its hiding-place and hop feebly about，nibbling the grass near its mother.When alarmed it returns to its pouch.
3.There is an odd story told of the way in which this animal got its name.Some English sailors who had landed on the Australian coast saw a party of native hunters who had just killed an animal unlike anycreature the sailors had ever seen before.They pointed to the animal，and asked the natives what it was called.The reply was，“Kangaroo，”which meant，“I do not understand，”for the natives did not know what the sailors were asking.The sailors knew quite as little of the native language，and they at once concluded that “kangaroo”was the native name of the animal；and so it has been called kangaroo ever since.
4.There are many different kinds of kangaroo.Some are only a few inches in height，and like the rat in their general appearance；others are six or seven feet high when standing upright.Some are found on the wide grassy plains ；others in the forests，where they live in the trees like squirrels.They are all alike，however，in some respects：they all have a pouch for carrying theiryoung，and they all have short fore legs and very long hind legs.
5.They do not walk on all fours，as most quadrupeds do，but advance by leaping or hopping on their strong hind legs；in some kinds the long，powerful tail also helps to support them.The great or giant kangaroo usually clears nine or ten feet at each leap，but when he is going at full speed his leaps measure twice as much.He skims along the plain without seeming to touch the ground，and at a speed which would keep him safe from horse and hound if he could hold out long enough.
6.This animal has a peculiarity about his lower jaw which is worth mentioning.The two lower jaw-bones do not grow together in front like those of other animals，and he can open them so far as to separate his two middle teeth about a quarter of an inch.These two teeth are sharp on the edges as well as at the points，and when he brings them together side-ways they act like a pair of scissors.In this way he can feed on grass which is too short for the teeth of any other animal.
7.While this is an advantage to the kangaroo，it causes much loss to the sheep-farmer；for his pasture is eaten by the kangaroo down to the very roots，so that it will not grow again.So much damage is done in this way that in some districts a reward is offered for every kangaroo that is killed.The animal is also hunted forits skin，which makes a fine soft leather，and sometimes the hind quarters and the tail are eaten.
8.The natives stalk the kangaroo，and kill it with the boomerang or the spear，and the settlers often shoot it.The kangaroo is also hunted on horseback and with dogs.The chase is sometimes a long one，and it is onlythe enduranceof the dogs that enables them to comeup with their prey.When brought to bay，a full-grownkangaroo sometimes makes good fight，and a kick fromhis powerful hind foot with its long claws is often fatal to young dogs that have not learned how to attack him.
9.Though naturally a timid animal，the mother kangaroo will sometimes show much courage for the sake of her little one.An Englishman，who hada sheep-farm in Australia，was one evening sitting inthe balconyof his house，when he was surprised tosee a kangaroo timidly approaching.As she went in the direction of the water-tank，he supposed that she wanted to drink，and he was surprised at her courage in coming so near the house for this purpose.
10.She advanced，stopped，and retreated times，as if struggling with her fears，but at last she went up to the tank.Then the gentleman saw her take her young one out of her pouch and hold it with her fore legs over the edge of the tank to drink.He could see her sit quivering with fear while it drank；and as soon as it had finished，she put it back in her pouch，and bounded swiftly away without waiting to satisfy her own thirst.
11.The gentleman who saw this incident and tells the story，was so much impressed by the love of the mother kangaroo，that from that time he would never shoot or hunt the animal.