The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-11-26
SEEN IN THE ZOO.


James Budget.
SEEN IN THE ZOO.
A r,yht Retween Muscovy Ducks In Which /
the Feathers Flew.
ssWhat 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 hiilock 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
fip,,t every since If she wasn't beneath
nv dignity I'd like to drop down and
clapper-claw her awhile"
.'See; they're at it for keeps" replied
the golden one in a iutter.
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 beaks, and with
heads wrapped in a hood of fery red
wattles. through which only their ugly
little eyes could be seen, glaring at
each other, while the feathers ruffied
on their outstrctched necks, and thcy
stamped their webbed fee on the earth
| and moved about, watching for n
chance to snatch good hold with their
| long, bony beaks.
Presently one darted out like fash
| and fastened her mandibles in the back
of the others neck, closed her eyes and
hung on like bulldog. The bitten one
made desperate efforts with her wings
to beat off her opponent, but failing,
twisted her neck about, and caught a
mouthful of her tormentor's watties.
The necks of both birds were twisted
about like snakes entwiDed All the
| while they pounded each other other
with their wings, and with surprising
ouickness rolled over and over dozen
times without letting go Meanwhile
ten members of the Muscovy family
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'
bic work the birds separated OF then
own accord, but never for an instant
did they stop glaring at each other
The other ducks took turns in fondiins
the fighters and quacking into thei
J ears what might have been points TX
take advantage of the next round. Ate
little time they sprang at each othe
and fought with redoubled fury. FRS
one and then the other would land OF
: top. and the dusty air was filed will
. down and feathers battered OH ant
D plucked out by the roots. The duck
r that stood by became SO fustered Wit
: excitement that they spread ont thei
r wings. drummed the dust, and bumpe
; into one another as if counting fights
: their own.
a Suddenly one of the real fighters ie
S out a cry-half scream and half squaw
S and breaking from his furious ar
0 tagonist, tried to run to cover. Th
e victor gave chase, grabbed a mouthfr
of the flying ones short tail feather
S and hung on with the tenacity OF
S swapping turtle. The beaten due
d sauawking like mad, raced around an
e around the inclosure, dragging her col
% queror, who, with closed eyes, vainl
e tried to brace herself to check tn
IS others fight. At last the weary, val
a ouished one poked her head and nee
d into a Granny in the rookery. and wout'
l. no doubt, have fancied she had escape
t. from her tormentors, had it not bee
Is for the torture she endured every tin
the winner plucked beakful OF plur
d. age out of the neither end--N. Y. A
re vertiser.
D. Cherry Seed That Cost s25,o 900.