Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-01-06
TWO QUEER ANIMALS
THE MARABOU AND THE HYENA OF
CENTRAL AFRICA.

sss ASSA "" III tHS 1blE
nnh Beast Often Battle For Their
Fond-Fairylikc Fumes That Are
Light nS Air.
The ugliest storks in tho world are found
III southern Asia and central Africa.
Tho,r flesh colorcu heads are only partially
covered with stiif, why feathers, and
hanging on the breast they bear u disgust
Ing pouch. which answers tho purpose Of
u crop. One of the largest of these storks
Is the marabou. 1t stalks about tho great
sandy plains of central Africa with a COM
posuro and lordly grandeur. as if it were
tho most beautiful bird in the world. It's
body feathers arc of u dull metallic green
color and its wings and tail arc dingy
black. Looking ut the awkward creature,
no one would suspect that under it's UNI
gninly wings it carried tho most exquisite
and fairylikc littlo plumes, SO airy that it
takes basketfuls Of them to weigh an
ounce. They are pure white, and so much
desired for trimming that tho bird is Wig
orously hunted by the natives, who sell
these dainty feathers to traders for a very
largo price.
Hunting tho marabou is attended with
great difficulty, as the bird possesses WON
dcrful cunning, and often contrives TO
outwit the most skillful hunter. With
lnughablc dignity it measures tho ground
between itself and it's pursucr and takes
very Eood care not to exhaust itself by too
rapid flight. If tho hunter moves slowly,
tho bird ut once adopts al equally easy
pace, but If the hunter quickcns his steps.
the bird is of like al arrow. 1t is very
difficult to get within gun range of this
calculating creature, but the natives adopt
n novel means of capturing it, which the
bird, with all it's a~stutencss, is unable to
comprehend and falls an easy victim. A
tempting morsel of meat is tied to the end
OF II long stout cord, which tho skillful
hunter filings to Il great distance, as he
would % lasso, tho bait falling as near the
fleeing bird rs he can aim it. Ho then
conceals himself hastily behind u bush or
crouchcs low on tho sand. Tho mnrabou,
which always keeps it's eye on tho hunter,
seeing him vanish. quietly stops and de-
yours the bait, when it is easily secured by
tho hunter, who runs toward it, coiling
tho rope rs he goes.
The marabou feeds on %cnrrion, like the
v%ulturo, Its throat is very large, and it
will greedily cat everything that comes in
Its way. In tho swalnps and plains
around Nhartum on tho Nile arc i'm
Nhcnse ilocks Of marabous, II they arc SO
daring as to como to the slaughter houses
on the outskirts of the city in search Of
food, and whole OK ears and shin bones
With hoOf attached have been found III tho
crops OF specimens which ave been killed.
This bird is u very ssillful fisher. 1t
haunts the low, marshy islands in tho riv-
ers and lakes of central Africa, with ele-
plants, monkeys, 1lamingoes and many
varieties of birds for its companions, and
gains it's principal food from the water.
They often go in companies of 10 to 12 to
fish. Wading in the water, the birds form q
circle, which they gradually draw togeth-
er, gathering tho frightened fish in the
center of tho net, when with their long
bills and quick movements they speedily
provide themselves with a hearty meal.
Although marabou mammas have been
seen proudly parading round with q
brood OF diminutivo downy young ones,
SO shy and retiring is this bird in it's do
nestle habits that naturalists rave been
unable to determine when and how it
builds its nest. The natives assert that 1t
nests in high trees, but their statement ID
not confirmed.
In captivity the marabou is lord of the
Enclosure, and in geological gardens,
where specimens have been confined, no
other BIRDS, nor even small beasts, dare
approach the feeding trough until the hum
ger of this impudent bird is satisfied and
1t has retired to the warmest corner for a
nap. Tho immense strength of its bill
makes it u formidable enemy, and when
fighting for food 1t VIII often overcome
the largest vultures, and wage successful
battles with beasts Of prey.
The hyena inhabits the same portions Of
Asia and Africa as the marabou, and
Jrnreiers give accounts OF uerrlple con-
fNEfS hntyVnnn fhncn <u,o 4, ~ 49,
OF tho animal kingdom. The hyena ia
called the vulturo among beasts, as it pre.
fers carrion for its food, and as long as ID
can find dead animals to devour it leaves
tho flocks and herds in peace. Cowardly
by nature, it rarely attacks man or beast
unless driven to desperation by hunger.
Tho striped hyena inhabits the northern
attitudes of Africa, Persia and Syria, while
tho spotted species, which is easily tanned,
and is sometimes called hyena dog, 10
found in largo numbers in tho vast plaina
of South Africa.
The hycna is u strange looking beast.
It has q big head and a hoavy, shaggy
mane. The hind part of it's body is much
lower than it's shoulders and its hind leoa
arc short. This odd formation gives it an
awkward, stumbling manner of walking.
which is both ludicrous and hideous.
ms creature rarely shows itself by dav.
but when the shadows of night fall on the
plains and forests it comes out from ita
homo among the rocks and caverns in
search Of food. African travellers are much
annoyed by it. When tho camp is silent
and all are sleeping, the hyena comes
prowling round, uttering hoarse human
cries, and should it fail to find sufficient
camp refuse to satisfy its hunger, some.
poor donkey is sure to be torn in pieces by
its terribly strong jaws.
Few animals have been tho subject Of
so much superstition. In ancient times
1t was believed that a dog went mad If q
hycna turned It's evil eye upon it, and the
beast was believed by many to be o wicked
sorccrer, who went about in human form
by day and at night assumed the shape Of
q hyena. The poor and ignorant peasant.
~ of Arabia, even at the present day. ba.
lievc in the evil eye of this beast and ara
afraid to shoot it lest they should inour
the wrath of tho wicked spirit which thew
imagine walks the earth in this ugly form.
The poor hyena, however. far from, 49,