Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-02-05
HOW DUMB saUTEs Plight.
Each Species Has Its Distinctive Meth
DDS of Defense Against Foes.


Each Species Has Its Distinctive Meth.
dds of Defense Against Foes.
No living creature has been left In a
defenseless condition by nature, yet
few people in the world with the ex-
cepton Of those who make study Of
animal life know exactly what they
are. In the herbivorous animal the de-
Tense gift, as it might he called, is
ing species, because the latter are the
relentless enemy of the former.
The giraffe, one Of the most peculiar
ly built Of the herbivorous animals,
and one that is rapidly becoming ex-
tinct, will probably attract more ct
tention than any other animal In the
menagerie. This animal is native
Of Samoaland, In Africa, and, being
thin-skinned, is supplied by nature
with remarkably sharp hoofs, which
he uses with great destructive force
when attacked by lions or tigers. A
giraffe has been known to virtually
tear lion into shreds
The zebra also uses his hoofs, but
in a different manner. Instead Of
striking he kicks. Zebras when pur-
sued by carnivorous animals will gal
lop for a time. Suddenly they will
stop, form a circle with their heads
turned toward the center and kick
viciously and in unison at their enemy.
In the formation of the circle the
weakest animals are placed in the cen
ter, and in consequence are afforded
an additional protection.
The greatest kicker Of the herbivor-
Gus class is the cassowary. Although
he has but two legs and greatly re-
sembles the Thanksgiving turkey, his
legs easily do the work of four when
put into active service. They are so
thickly muscled and the bird uses
them with such dexterity that he can
break tigers back with one blow.
The Gland. which is the largest of
the antelope family, is furnished with
pair Of spiral-like horns, the points
of which are as sharp as freshly
ground swords. With these horns the
Gland. while running in the country
south &C the Sahara desert, impales
his many adversaries of the cat tribe
and dashes them to death on the sun
baked ground.
The Russian white deer is devoid Of
horns and depends on razor-edged
hoofs to protect his family and him
self. Although very timid by nature
he becomes a perfect demon when
aroused and fights as long as life re-
mains. The llama also uses his heofs
in the event of an attack.
The Danger or gorka, known as the
wild mule of India, fights like the ze-
bra and protects the young and weak
of his kind In the same manner. He
Is more timid than the zebra and does
not possess near the pluck. The yak,
from the highlands of the Thibet, butts
and tramples on his enemy. He is a
great fighter and usually hunts trouble
with lions and tigers instead of en-
deavoring to avoid them. His coat of
extra long coarse hair affords him
considerable protection from their
fangS and claws.
The hippopotamus is not a fighter,
except among his own kind. He is a
born sluggard and is great glutton
and is continually getting into trou-
BILE with his mates over the food sup
plies. II he fails to reach the water
when pursued and his enemy should
leap upon his back the hippopotamus
trusts to his thick hide to prevent pos
sible injury and endeavors to crush his
adversary by rolling over on him. AS
a hippopotamus weighs from two tons
up, one roll Is usually sufficient to end
the life of a lion, tiger or other animal
of the species.
That great beast, the elephant, is
supplied with an extraordinary thick
skin for protection. That he will fight
has been amply demonstrated in the
jungles of Africa and India. His com
mon enemy, the tiger, always leaps on
him from the rear. 1t is then the ele-
plant turns to fight and often he has
been known to wrap his trunk about
the body Of tiger and dash the cat
tn death against a tree.