The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-29
ROW IN THE EAGLES CAGE.
The Condor Is the Boss-Vultrres Next
as FigIiters-Water Cure. -. ~

Tho Condor Is the Boss-Vultures Next
as Figllters-Water Cure. -
A crowd was gathered around the cage In
which the eagles are confined in Central park,
tho other day, watching a few daring English
srarrows that were picking up the leavings OF !:
the eagles dinner. The eagles sat majestic
and silent upon the limbs of the make-believe.
trees, as though lost i'll deep revelics. Sud-
denly vulture darted like a flash of lightning
from one of the upper perches and swooped
down upon one of our own bald heads with
flendisll screams. The bald head answered
with screams of terror and hastily retfeated
into dark corner of the cage Tho wonei
md children drew back from the cage infeat,
and even the men exhibited desire to be be-,
yond tho reach of Sir Vultures sharp talons
Tho vulturc stood silent Oh tho bottom OF
the cage for moment, while the other eagles
moved uncasily On their perehcs. Then the,
condor, who had been sitting on the highest
branch Of all, gave vent I'd shrek almost as
deafening rs the whistle of a locomotive, and
dropped down upon tho vllture. In momenss
feathers flcwin every direction. AL the eagles.
screamed III unison, and tho little birds in tho
other cages crouched mute and trembling In
tho corners - ...
A gray-coatcd park policeman who came
rushing to the cage shouted to a-keepef,, afid1
in moment tho man who has charge Of the
eagles came running up. He seized a pail OF
water from behind the cage, and, getting as
close as possible to the fighting birds. ,he.
doused them with it. The effect waS instan.
tancous The fight was all gone out of them,.
and they crawled away to different corners,
dripping and detected. The condor had had.
much tho best of the fight. he was bleeding
in only few places, while his opponent was
covered with tho sanguinary fluid.
. "Tho eagles fight very hard sometimea,p,
said the keeper to the reporter. aWater Is,
the only thing that will stop them; and even.
that doesn't always work. If they are very,
hot wo separate them with poles, and then
yank them into q tank Of water, where we
duck them until all the fight IS gone out Of
them. =,
"TLc condor is tho boss of the roost, and
none of the others caro- to dispute his suprem-
acy. The vultures come next as fighters, and.
the bald head is ut the tail end Of the list. Tho
vultures can't stand the cold weather though.
In winter we have to take them inside, while
the other eagles rather enjoy the cold. 'e,ic
"When we want to have some fun with the
eagles we throw live rats at them. Ord1-
narily they are fed with raw meat, but live,
rats arc dclicacics to them. You never know
how terrible their talons aro until you see !
them tear rat to pieces. They pounce upon,
rats like cats, and III jify they have them
torn into shrcds. The rats so into the other 4
bird cages of their own accord and steal tho
eggs, but they give tho eagles cage wide
berth" =.
"Do the eagles hurt ono another in their
fights''' inquired tho reporter. ~.
"Oh, yes If they were, not separated they
would fight until one or the. other was
killed. IN Y. Sun. ~.. i.