The Kangaroo

Leather made from the skin of the kangaroo is one of the new producís in the leather line. It is soft, strong, and the light grades are particularly well adapted for light summer shoes and for shoe tops, while the heavier grades will bear more usage than any other lealher finished on the grain side. The light skins are made into the finest brilliant glazed kid and in dull finish for ladies' fine shoes, and the heavy ones are finished for men's fine work. Much of it is crimped and sold for tongue boots. Shoe laces of good qualities are also made of it. The skin of the kangaroo has a wonderfully muscular flbre, which contrifciifes largely to the strength of tbe s-imil, enabling che females to carry thoir young in their pouch until old enough to take care of themselves, and aiding the kangaroo in his long leaps when in motion. The animal is a natiye of Australia and adjacent islands. It is a distinct species, and has no counterpart in other countries. There are a great number of families, some scarcely larger than a rat, others of almost gigantic size. The giant kangaroo (Macropus major), the I family which furnishes the most vaias ble skins, was discovered by Captain Cook about a century ago, at which time it attracted much attention among nat-' uralists. Tho natives of Australia cali the old males "booma," and are slow to attack them. The "booma" has paws as large as those of a mastiff, though of different shape. His feet are his weapons, and when attacked he is a dangerous antagonist. When raised to his full height his hind legs and tail form a tripod, upon which his body rests, carrying his head as high as that of a man on horseback. The kangaroo lives upon vegetable food.. and roams over the plains of Australia in large flocks. lts teeth are so constructed hat it can feed upon roots and live upon barren plains, where other animáis would starve, and to its destruction ol roots is attributed the sterile plains so lommon in Australia. When feeding a large male stands at his full height and acts as sentinel, while the balance oí the flock lie on their sides and browse. At the slightest approach of danger the sentinel sounds the alarm, and in an instant all are erect upon their hind feet. They leap with their forepaws clasped close to their body, the tail stretched backward, while the powerful thigh muscles are caused suddenly to straighten to the joints, by which act the body fiies through the air. on a low curve. The ordinary jump is about nine feet, but thirty feet is often made at a leap. When pursued by hunters, and on level ground, or on an up-grade, they can outrun the fleetest dog, but down-grade they lose their balance and roll over. The flesh of the kangaroo furnishes excellent food, Kangaroo venison being considered a dainty dish, while the tail furnishes an excellent and nutritious soup.