Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-10-31
TWO QUEER ANIMALS
The Marabol and The Hyena OF
Central Africa.

eitS ttsat dhoti GILL kliG tlyChta VI
Central Africa.
BOTH VUL lures In MIXTURE.
Each Gorges Itself on carrios, and tisa
8 Bird and Beast Often Battle FOR
Their Food Fairylike Plumes That
Are as Light as Air.
The ugliest storks in the world are
found in southern Asia and central
Africa. Their flesh colored heads are
only partially covered with stiff, why
feathers and hanging on the breast
they bear a disgusting pouch. which
answers the purpose Of crop. One OF \
the largest of these storks is the mara
bou. 1T stalks about the great sandy
plains of central Africa with com
posture and a lordly grandeur, as If it
were the most beautiful bird in the
world. Its body feathers are of duh
metallic green color, and its wings and
tail are dingy black. Looking at the
awkward creature, no one would sus-
pect that under its ungainIy wings 1t
carried the most exquisite and fairy
like little plumes, SO airy that 1t takes
basketfuls Of them to weigh an ounce.
They are pure white and so much de-
sired for trimming that the bird is Wig
orously hunted by the natives, who
sell these dainty feathers to traders
for a very large price.
The marabou feeds on carrion, like
the yulture. Its throat is very large,
and 1t will greedily eat everything that
comes in Its way. In the swamf,s and
plains around Khartum. on the Nile.
are immense fiocks of marabous, and
they, are SO daring as to come to the
slaughter houses on the outskirts or
the city In search of food, and whole
OK ears and shin bones with hoof at
tached have been found In the crops
of specimens which have been killed.
These birds are skillful fishers. They
haunt the low marshy islands in the
| rivers and lakes of central Africa, with
elephants, monkeys, fiamingoes and
many varieties of birds for compan-
/ ions. and gain their principal food from
the water. They often go in compa
MES Of ten or twelve to fish. Wading.
in the water, the birds form a circle,
i which they gradually draw together,
gathering the frightened fish in the.
center of the net, when with their long
bills and quick movements they speed
lily provide themselves with a hearty
meal E
Although marabou mammas have
been seen proudly parading around
/ with a brood of diminutive doWny
4 young ones, SO shy and retiring is this
bird in its domestic habits that nat
uralists have been unable to determine
when and how it builds its nest. The
natives assert that it nests in high
trees, but their statement is not con-
! f1rmed. Il : 49, II 2 * - IS y Fa 34,f
4 In captivity the marabol is lord OF
the inclosure, and in geological gardens,
where specimens have been confined,
no other birds or even small beasts
dare approach the feeding trough I'M
I til the hunger of this impudent bird is
satisfied and it has retired to the warm
est corner for nap. The immense
strength of its bill makes 1T a formida-
bic enemy, and when fighting for food
1t will often overcome the largest yul-
lures and wage successful battles with
beasts of prey. T., sl.$g# .2
The hyena inhabits the same por-
lions Of Asia and Africa as the mara
/ bou, and travellers give accounts of
terrible contests between these tive
singular mem bers of the animal king
dom. The hyena is called the Fuiture
among beasts, as it prefers carrion for
its food, and as long as it can find
dead animals to deEour, it leaves the
flocks and herds in peace. Cowardly
by nature, it rarely attacks man or
beast unless driven to desperation by
hunger. ~. a-.- 81 = H. .sg{5 Ill.,. IS
The striped hyena inhabits the north
ern ATTITUDES of Africa, Persia and
Syria, while the spotted Species which
is easily tanned and is sometimes call
ed hyena dog. is found in large num-
bers in the vast plains of South Africa.
The hyena is-a strange looking beast.
1t has big head and q heavy, shaggy
name. The hind part of its body is
much lower than it's shoulders, and its
hind legs are short This odd forma-
ton gives it an awkward, shambling
manner of walking, which is both lu-
dicrous and hideous.
/ This creature rarely shows itself by
day, but when the shadows OF night
fall on the plains and forests it comes
out from its home among the rocks
and caverns ia search of food. Afri-
can travellers are much annoyed by it.
/ When the camp is silent and all are
/ sleeping the hyena comes proving
round, uttering hoarse human cries,
and should it fail to find sufficient
camp refuse to satisfy its hunger some
4 poor donkey is sure to be torn in
pieces by its terribly strong jaws.
i Few animals have been the subject
of so much superstition In ancient
times it was believed that a dog went
$ mad IL hyena turned its evil eye up