age-meat, with half its weight of fat bacon, kangaroo
flesh is just eatable. The tail makes a very rich soup. The skin of the
kangaroo provides a soft and pliant leather which is excellent for
shoes. Kangaroo furs are also of value for rugs and overcoats.

[Illustration: THE AUSTRALIAN FOREST AT NIGHT "MOONING" OPOSSUMS.
PAGES 49 & 71.]

Of tree-inhabiting animals the chief in Australia is the 'possum (which
is not really an opossum, but is somewhat like that American rodent, and
so got its name), and the koala, or native bear. Why this little animal
was called a "bear" it is hard to say, for it is not in the least like a
bear. It is about the size of a very large and fat cat, is covered with
a very thick, soft fur, and its face is shaped rather like that of an
owl, with big saucer-eyes.

The koala is the quaintest little creature imaginable. It is quite
harmless, and only asks to be let alone and allowed to browse on
gum-leaves. Its flesh is uneatable except by an aboriginal or a victim
to famine. Its fur is difficult to manipulate, as it will not lie flat,
so the koala should have been left in peace. But its confiding and
somewhat stupid nature, and the senseless desire of small boys and
"children of larger growth" to kill something wild just for the sake of
killing, has led to the koala being almost exterminated in many places.
Now it is protected by the law, and may get back in time to its old
numbers. I hope so. There is no more amusing or pretty sight than that
of a mother koala climbing sedately along a gum-tree limb, its young
ones riding on it pick-a-back, their claws dug firmly into its soft fur.

The 'possum is much hunted for its fur. The small black 'possum found in
Tasmania and in the mountainous districts is the most valuable, its fur
being very close and fine. Dealers in skins will sometimes dye the grey
'possum's skin black and trade it off as Tasmanian 'possum. It is a
trick to beware of when buying furs. Bush lads catch the 'possum with
snares. Finding a tree, the scratched bark of which tells that a 'possum
family lives upstairs in one of its hollows, they fix a noose to the
tree. The 'possum, coming down at night to feed or to drink, is caught
in the noose. Another way of getting 'possum skins is to shoot the
little creatures on moonlight nights. (The 'possum is nocturnal in its
habits, and sleeps during the day.) When there is a good moon the
'possums may be seen as they sit on the boughs of the