This curious animal, called a Kangaroo, hops on his hind-legs, which
are very long; his fore-legs are short, and he has a very long hard
tail. Kangaroos herd together in great numbers, for they are very
timid creatures. At the least alarm they will run away, and leap over
high bushes. They use their short fore feet for digging, and putting
food in their mouths. They feed upon vegetables and grass, and do not
eat flesh. The mother carries her young ones about her in a sort of
pouch.
The kangaroo is brought from a very large island, a great many
thousand miles from here. We have some in this country, which you may
see by going to the Menagerie, where the keeper will tell you a great
many stories about them. Their nature is not at all fierce. The
picture below shows the manner in which the kangaroo leaps.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: LEOPARD.]