The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-11-26
SEEN IN THE ZOO.
A Fight Between Muscovy Ducks In Which
sanN the Feathers Flew.

bho EcdIhcrb EleW.
what ails the Muscovys this morn
ing?" said the golden eagle to his bald
kinsman, while they perched face to
face on the summit of the hillocll of
rocks in their summer boarding-house
in Central park. "The fat one has just
laid her first egg, and she's so stuck on
her work that she's been itching for
fight every since. If she wasn't beneath
my dignity I'd like to drop down and
clapper-claw her awhile
''See; they're at it for l1eeps!' replied
the golden one in a futter.
AT least this is the way that Keeper
Carlin interpreted the looks and acts of
the eagles, of which birds he has been
an uncommonly close observer. He may
have an inkling of the way birds Of
prey communicate with one another,
for the ducks the eagles talked about
were in a great fiutter Two of them,
with broad, fat bodies, large fiat feet,
strong wings, stout beal1s, and with
heads wrapped in hood of fiery red
wattles, through which only their ugly
little eyes could be seen, glaring at
each other, while the feathers rutlied
on their outstretched necks, and they
stamped their webbed fee on the earth
and moved about, watching for %
chance to snatch good hold with their
long, bony beaks.
Presently one darted out like flash
and fastened her mandibles in the back
of the others neck, closed her eyes and
hung on like bulldog. The bitten one
do alE1 L
to beat off her opponent, but failing,
twisted her neck about, and caught a
mouthful of her tornentor's wattles.
The necks of both birds were twisted
about like snakes entwined. All the
while they pounded each other other
with their wings, and with surprising
quickness rolled over and over a dozen
times without letting go. Meanwhile
ten members OF the Muscovy fanily
formed ring around the fighters, NOV
ing with the ''scrappers," and quacking
and clapping their wings as though
urging the combatants to fight harder.
After five minutes of rough-and- tum-
BILE work the birds separated of their
own accord, but never for an instant
did they stop glaring at each other.
The other ducks took turns in fondling
the fighters and quaclling into their
ears what might have been points to
take advantage of the next round. After
little time they sprang at each other
and fought with redoubled fury. First
one and then the other would land on
top, and the dusty air was filled with
down and feathers battered off, and
plucked out by the roots. The ducks
that stood by became so tiustered with
excitement that they spread out their
wings, drummed the dust, and bumped
into one another as if counting fights of
their own.
Suddenly one of the real fighters let
out cry-half scream and half squawlx
and breaking from his furious an
tagonist, tried to run to cover. The
victor gave chase, grabbed mouthful
OF the flying ones short tail feathers
and hung on with the tenacity of a
swapping turtle. The beaten duck
squswking like mad, raced around and
around the inclosure, dragging her con-
queror, who with closed eyes, vainly
tried to brace herself to check the
others flight. At last the weary, van
I''lshed one polSed her head and neck
Into Granny in the roolery, and would,
no doubt, have faDeied she had es .aped
S,om her s1yme lsSs=.