The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-10-20
.FEATRERED HUNTERS WHO SEEK
THEIR PREY IN COUPLES.
s-e-s-siNs-s-s--
BY @. f. HOLDER

A party of travellers through north
ern Africa some years ago came to camp
on the borders Of a tract Of land that
had been burned over quite recently.
leaving the ground covered with a soft
layer Of ashes. From this the skeleton
branches of shrubs Of various kinds pro-
truded, and the larger limbs of mimosas
yet so bare that game could be seen for
long distance. The caravan had late
ly crossed terrible desert. where tho
trail was lined with the skeletons Of
camels and various animals that had
fallen by the way. and the glimpse of
living animals was SO welcome that the
various creatures that wandered about
the camp We're unmolested.
As they sat one morning resting they
We're aStonisIed to see walking toward
them Il flock Of black and white storks.
common in the country and to be seen
everywhere sitting by the banks of the
Nile watching for prey. The birds
numbered twenty or more and came
gravely on. rs if they were body Of
dignitied ambassadors intent ON some
mission of Importance They paid not
the slightest attention to the camp. but
walked slowly by. When opposite to
them. the travellers saw that upon the
back of each stork perched a small bird
about as large as robin. There seemed
TO be perfect understanding between
the steeds and their riders Ordinarily
II bird like the stork would have been
annoyed by such companion. but
these walked calmly along with their
little riders. who occasionally flew away
and returned again. When the strange
cavalcade passed near the camp it was
apparent that the StorkS were on
hunting expedition and that the small
er birds had attached themselves to the
hunters evidently to save trouble in
transportation. The sto.ks were pick
ing up the grasshoppers out of the
ashes. and if one by any chance escaped
their watchful eyes or sharp beaks down
ponnced one of the copper colored riders
and seized it. returning to the back of
the storli to devour it. To this the latter
made no objection. taking it all as Il
matter Ct course. AND so the curious
procession moved on, the men in camp
watching their strange actions until
they had passed out of sight.
This action on the part of tho large
bird in not only permitting another
bird to ride on its back and pound its
feathers with grasshoppers in its at
tempts to devour them, suggests that
there must have been some under
standing between the birds. The small
bird might properly be considered an
interloper, but from the quiet manner
in which the stork accepted the stu
alton it would appear that good fellow
ship prevailed among them.
ciation among birds in the south,
though in this instance the smaller bird
was evidently a roEber. l fret noticed
it when drifting on lagoon among
the Florida keys. My boat was an
chored to coral bank, and l was lying
down on tho little deck. looking down
into the water. when a brown pelican
came flying along, closely followed by
a large gull, which we termed the
laughing gull. from it's note, which was
decided ha hal many times repeated.
The pelican, perceiving school OF
small fish near my boat, rose few feet,
then dashed headlong among them. 1t
, came up shaking its feathers and al
lowing the water to drain from its pom
derous pouch, in which were several
! fishes. The moment the pelican rose the
laughing gull swooped down and alight-
ed on it's lead. and. leaning over just
rs the pelican was about to swallow.
deftly snatched one Of the fish from its
long bill and with derisive laugh flew
away. Immediately returning to the
pelican's back. where it apparently
rested. while the large bird swan
about. Offering not the slightest objec-
tion to the rider.
In this instance the net Of the gull
was certainly theft of the most bare
faced character. yet the big pelican,
which could have annihilated its rider
accepted the situation in apparent goo6
nature so that the impression was
created that the two hunted together
and the pelican was content to share 1T
: sroils with the laughing gull.
. That birds apparently hunt togethe
: is not go remarkable as the fact tha
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