The new enterprise., 1905-08-03
SHE'S A GREAT HUNTER.
Mrs. Kerr's Latest Expedition
is in Quest of a Rare Bird
IS Is rs g

mine, and II was there tnat she sue
ceeded in killing a large tapir, or danta,
as they are called by the natives, Mrs.
Kerr said: "My passion is hunting, and
as l led a somewhat isolated life there
1 was always looking out for some ad-
venture of that kind. The native boys
knew Of this, too, and one day came to
me in great excitement with a tale OF
the track Of a very large danta which
they had discovered on the mountain.
| went out alone, as always do. Two
people make too much noise, and /
never allowed any of the boys to go
with me on that account. On a high
mountain about three miles from the
house | came on the trail which they
had described to me and found that it
was indeed fine specimen of the ami
NAL, Judging by the size Of the tracks.
After following the trail for about two
hours, over mountains and through
swamps and thickets, I came on the
danta, lying down on a slight eleva-
tion near swamp, which was evident
ly its abiding place. With it was
young one, which probably made the
animal doubly fierce.
THE danta will, II frightened, run,
but if brought to bay will fight to
finish, trampling its victim to death
with its knees after knocking him
down with rush. As soon as this
one saw me 1t came for me. making
noise like herd Of horses, but utter
ing no sound. had a shotgun loaded
with ball. l waited until the danta
was within thirty feet Of me and then
| fired, 1t was only necessary to shoot
once, as they are easy TO kill If the shot
goes into the soft part of the neck be-
hind the ear, The danta fell dead
few feet from me and the little one ran
away and made its escape in the woods
before l could get it, 1 never attempt
ed to do anything with so large an ami
NAL, but went home and sent the native
boys to get it, They are very fond Of
the flesh, which is coarse and black,
something like bear meat when fresh,
and all the natives at the mine had
great feast that night"
or the appearance and habits of the
animal Mrs, Kerr says: "These dantas,
which are about the size of n two.year.
old cow, or four and a half feet high,
are not brown, like the smaller varie-
ties, but black, with a skin like a pig
and sparsely covered with hairs. The
body resembles that of a hlppOpotamus
and the head is somewhat like that of
an elephant, having an abbreviated
trunk. 1t delights in swampy places,
but does not sleep there, choosing al
ways a dry spot near by. It lives on
succulent herbage and fruits, such as
amatc, a wild dg, and the wild plan
tain"
II these two valuable additions to the
world of natural science can be secured
In Central America, Mrs. Kerr will not
feel that her trip has been in vain, bur
she is also desrous of taking the mem
bers Of her party, among whom will be
an expert taXidermist, to South Amer.
lea, where she will show them wonders
in The United States of Colombia Far
UP into the Santa Marta Mountains
will Mrs. Kerr lead her little band, and
there, on the Lado del Coche, or Lake
Of Pigs, is to be captured the huiri.
fierce species Of the condor. as large rs
an American vulture and about the
same color, They are strangely
equipped with spurs on their wings. at
the shoulders and the first joints. and
when wounded will 1ght ferociously.
When the size OF the birds Is consid-
cred and the fact that these spurs are
about four inches long and extremely
sharp it may be readily realized that
they are a somewhat formidable foe.
From here Mrs. Kerr's expedition
will go by steamship to some point on
the western coast Of Central America:
there they will get horses and burros,
procure Indian guides familiar with the
wilds Of the interior and disappear
from the haunts Of civllizatlon.-San
francisco Chronicle,