Translations. Into Latin Hexameters. Long time in even scale The battle hung: till Satan, who that day Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled Milton: Paradise Lost, Bk. VI. Into Latin Sapphics. I weigh not fortune's frown or smile, Sylvester. Translations. Idem Latinè redditum. Incerto ancipitis librata examine Martis Sic prior aggreditur dictis, atque increpat ultro. Percy Greg, Chelt. Coll., 1854. Latin Sapphics. Me nec adversæ movet aut secundæ Vana Fortunæ facies, fugacem Nec peto cultum nimis aut honorem, aut Gaudia vitæ. Non voluptates ego nunc inanes Diligo, paucis sed enim beato Multa non desunt, nec amore habendi Plura requiro. Non tremo raucum tonitrus fragorem, Non furor belli movet, aut ruina, Flamma nec diri rutilâ flagrantis Triste non damnum timeo, nec ullum Invidet nullis animus, nec unquam W. W. Merry, Chelt. Coll., March, 1851. A The Kangaroo. LTHOUGH, in all probability, to the majority of the readers of the "Cheltonian", the peculiar habits of the Kangaroo are well known, yet some few may be interested in the following cursory sketch of the characteristics of that animal, which, though it seems harmless, is yet one of the squatters most deadly enemies, and treated accordingly. In the first place, we suppose it is hardly necessary to say that the Kangaroo is peculiar to the Australian Continent and the neighbouring islands; indeed, it is one of the most curious facts connected with Australia, that most of the animals which inhabit it are found only in that country; and not only in its Zoology do we notice this peculiarity, but also in its Botany and Ornithology. Perhaps, too, it would not be out of place here to remark, how wonderfully Australia exemplifies, what has been noticed elsewhere, namely, that the natural productions of a country bear strongly on the social condition of its inhabitants. The rarity of animals adapted for human food and domestic use, must cause an almost insurmountable obstacle to the progress of civilization. For this reason, no doubt, we find that the natives of Australia are the most degraded of the human race. They cannot remain long settled in one place, as they are forced to roam from one part of the country to another in search of food, which often consists only of roots, shellfish, and even worms and reptiles. Sometimes, indeed, by the use of the native dog, the Dingo, they are able to hunt down a Kangaroo; but this seldom happens, and in general they are satisfied with the above-mentioned simple and coarse nourishment. It has, we think, been correctly remarked, that the aboriginal inhabitants could scarcely have emerged from the barbarism, in which they were found by European settlers, so formidable a barrier did the productions of the country present to any great increase in the population, and to the formation of a civilized society; and yet, perhaps, it may be fairly questioned whether this state of barbarism would have brought about the extinction of the aboriginal race, so rapidly as the introduction of so-called civilization. And now, in reply to our readers very natural question, as to what this has to do with the Kangaroo, we can only answer as did Captain Marryatt, when he supposes himself to be attacked after making a long digression, "Nothing, I grant, with the story, but a great deal to do with making an article." Returning then to our subject, we find that there are several species of Kangaroo,-the "forester", the most common and the largest of the marsupalia, the brush Kangaroo, and the wallabi. Besides these there are other species, but they are more rarely met with. The Kangaroo is herbivorous, as most of the animals of the Australian Continent are; and on this account it is, that they are the cause of so much injury to the squatters: the quantity of grass eaten by them being almost incredible. In England, we hear comparatively little of the extraordinary damage which the Kangaroo does to the settler, and we are led to suppose that that animal is becoming extinct, and in consequence our interest is enlisted in its favour; but, on the contrary, we have good reason to know that herds of Kangaroos frequent the various stations in thousands. In order to prevent their increase, or rather to diminish their numbers as much as possible, a party of 40 or 50 people often collect together, and slaughter them in large numbers. They do not, however, as in other countries, make a grand battue by surrounding a particular part of the country, and driving the Kangaroos to the centre, and there kill them, but build a regular Kangaroo-yard, that is, an enclosure formed by a fence some 8 or 10 feet high, and made of brushwood, through which the Kangaroos cannot escape. Into this yard, along a fence leading up to it, they drive the Kangaroos, and in this way kill many hundreds of them. On one station, not long ago, there were killed about 500,-a slaughter, which seems too wholesale and revolting to English readers; but when we consider the amount of loss which these animals, thousands of which feed on nearly every run, cause to the settlers, the necessity of their destruction is obvious. That the Kangaroo is not an aggressive animal, may be readily interred from the fact, that they are often killed with sticks by the colonists. This inference is true for the most part; but there are some few instances, in which Kangaroos have been known to fight long and obstinately both with dogs and men. The latter they dread more than the former, for it has often required several dogs to place a "forester" hors-de-combat; and this is especially the case when the Kangaroo has been able to reach water, for which they always make, and in it stand up to their breasts, and, with their fore-paws, for a long time keep the dogs at bay. The best breed of dogs for hunting them, is the cross between the greyhound and staghound, as being possessed of great strength and swiftness, both of which qualities are necessary to run down Kangaroos. These dogs are naturally exceedingly fond of the chase; and an old Kangaroo dog has been seen, after the Kangaroo had sunk in the stream, to dive for the body and bring it up to the surface of the water, in order to renew the contest. With these dogs the squatters often enjoy a good day's hunting after an “old man” (a name given by the colonists to the large Kangaroos), whom the dogs are only able to bring to bay after a long and plucky run: and many a time is the settler reminded of the fox-hunting in old England, although in the new country no hedges or brooks add to the enjoyment and excitement of the chase. Another Belieber in Ghosts. N reading the August number of the " Cheltonian," I was very pleased to see that another correspondent had anticipated me in my purpose of writing "Another Word about Ghosts," and of giving an instance of a really well authenticated appearance of one. Such of your readers, however, who take an interest in the question, might not object even to another story which tells on the same side as that of your last correspondent, and the further evidence thus brought to bear may perhaps induce the original author of the "Word about Ghosts," to give some instances in support of his theory, and contribute his explanations of what at best has ever been a much mooted question. The story I am about to relate, though perhaps inferior in actual "sensation' to that of Mr. S, has the advantage of explaining how the Ghost originally came, and whose was the vision that haunted the place. In an old house in Hertfordshire called M- C—, in the time of Charles I., a noble family were living, and had lived for many years before, undisturbed by any Ghost or haunting spirit. One morning, however, on going to the stable, the groom, or whatever the name of that domestic then was, found his mistress' favourite horse all covered with foam, and with every sign of having been furiously ridden during the night. Fearful of the consequences to himself should the state of the animal become known to his lord, the man concealed the circumstance, and reported the horse to be ill. But at last when night after night the animal |