Wildlife in Australia (22)

Gene reports on wallabys, jumper ants, kangaroos, and tree toads.  A nice selection of Australian wildlife!

Capt. Pfile with the captured wallaby

15 Nov. '43
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     This is to all of you, but especially to Jack [their 14-year-old son] and Marianne [their 5-year-old neice] for they both wrote me such nice letters!
     One of the men caught a young wallaby (small species of kangaroo). I wish I could send you one of them, for they are so cute. They make nice pets, it is said. They also had a young kangaroo, but it got out one night.
     How is the boomerang, Jack? [In October Jack had written to Beth: "Our neighbor Mr. Grattelo is teaching me to throw the boomerang. I can make it go like this only (and he drew a figure sort of like ℓ)"] Have you learned to make it come back to you? I'm so glad you liked it.
     Marianne, I saw some "abo" children the other day, but they are civilized and didn't look a thing like the cute ones in the book! They looked just like white children who had been scorched a bit in the making.
     It is peculiar about these Aborigines. Their features are not at all Negroid, but they are very dark. There is a colony of them somewhere near here. I hope I get a chance to see it some time. Of course, some live and work in town, but these are more "native".
     The news has been a lot better lately, hasn't it? Maybe it won't be so long as some think. I most fervently hope not!
     Love, Eugene



Dear Folks,
     ... Yesterday I received a box of candy from the Gaines in Trinidad [Colorado]. Oh, I wouldn't let it sit around - the ants might get in! This morning I saw something new in ants - ones with a blue head and forepart of the body, and they jump! 2 or 3 inches, and for no good reason that I can see!  [Probably a type of Myrmecia jumping ant that is only found in Australia, and one which holds its victim with its jaws and then hits it with a powerful sting].  They do have the darnedest things over here.
     My feet are doing O.K. I haven't gone on any long walks. It is getting too hot in the day time, anyway.
     ... This morning I went down town, and saw some ducks on the river. They looked to be pretty large, too. But it is the wrong time of the year, here, for hunting! Our days are getting rather warm.
     One of the men caught a small wallaby (small species of kangaroo) and had it in a box. They make nice pets, I've heard. The 'roos are too large to be pets when grown, and the males can be downright dangerous. Their coats are soft and fuzzy.
     We've had 1 small shower. Otherwise things are quite dry. That helps the mosquito situation!
     Love, Eugene

December 25, 1943  Christmas Day!
     It hasn't been as bad as I expected.  I was a bit low last evening, but after the gang went to the dance and things quieted down, I opened my gifts and it helped a lot.  I could just feel the love wrapped up with each gift!  And to think when the packages were sent, Beth's Dad was still with us.
     [And now a bit of wild life!]  This morning I was up before 5 to go caroling around the area.  The officers didn't appreciate being awakened, but Hiram and Gus cut up like monkeys and had everyone awake and laughing by 6:30 - first time I've ever known them all to be awake so early.
     George had 1 tooth knocked out and 2 busted and his lip cut 3 days ago, playing ball.
    



Cunningham's "Station", or ranch about 15 miles outside 
Rockhampton

January 2, 1944
     Kangaroo hunting at the Cunningham's - about 15 miles west of town.  They have paddocks totaling 600 acres and run about 1200 head of cattle. ...  I saw several calves that dingoes had injured.  Dingoes cause a lot of losses.  The true dingo has long since crossed with dogs to give a larger, fiercer, bolder animal.
     They raise some feed, though the bottom land is not apparently so rich.  "Lucern" is what they call our alfalfa.  The dry grass does not seem to be eaten by cattle or sheep, hence they burn it off so the new grass grows up.
     They gave us tea.  Then we drove out to a paddock and started.  I got the first shot at one soon after we left the car but missed.  I don't like the carbine very well - the stock seems too short, and I tend to look over the sights instead of thru, when I raise it in a hurry.  (Have to have some excuse!)  We walked on thru sparce timber open country with sharp small hills, and very little brush.  The kangaroos are not hard to see when they start moving, but are not easy to hit from 2 or 300 yards when they are moving.  If not shot at a lot, they can easily be sneaked up on, being stupid animals!  I took long shots and more than I should.  Finally I got up to about 150 yards of one.  He jumped straight up so I knew he was hit.  He went over the edge of a hill and I ran up and saw him down in the tall grass, shot again and missed and he went over another edge.

Mr. Cunningham (?) and Gene with the kangaroo he killed

  Then I shot again and put him down.  Our friend skinned him, stripping most of the hide.  Joe, Hiram and Gray and the driver had been shooting all this time, too!  Joe used a tommy gun, Hiram a converted .303 English gun, Gray a carbine and the driver a Springfield!  We went on, and saw more and I shot about 10 times more, hitting nothing.  In all I shot 26 times!  When we got back, they had tea (really supper) for us!

January 3, 1944
     I tried tanning the hide.  Terrible smell.  I gave up trying to flesh it and dropped it into dilute H2SO4 (1 lb. conc to 3 gal. water - I used 1/3) for 3 1/2 hours.


3 Jan. '44

Dear Folks [Mary X and John],

     ...  I enjoyed your letter, Jack.  That tree toad is still about.  Right now he's living in my tent mate's cadet bag!  ...

     Thanks too for the letter, Mary X!  I enjoy knowing what the family is doing.

     Love, Eugene

Resident tree frog or toad