The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-11-19
TWO QUEER ANIMALS
The Marabou and the Hyena Of
Central Africa.
BOTH vULTURES IN NATURE
Each Georges Itself on carrion, and the
Bird and Beast Often Battle For
Their Food-FairyIike PIumes That
Are as Light as Air.

Bird and Beast Often Battle For
Their Food-FairyIike PIumes 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, wiry
feathers. and hanging on the breast
they bear 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 lordly grandeur, as If 1t
were the most beautiful bird In the
world. Its body feathers are Of a dull
metallic green color, and its wings and
tail are dingy black. Looking at the
awkward creature, no one would sus-
pect that under its ungainly wings 1t
carried the most exquisite and fairy
like little plumes. 50 airy that it 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 very large price.
The marabou feeds on carrion, like
the vulture Its throat is very large,
and it willsgreedily eat everything that
comes In its way. In the swamps and
plains around Khartum, on the Nile,
are immense fiocks Of hazardous, and
they are so daring as to come to the
slaughter houses on the outskirts of
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, famingoes 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 circle,
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.
Although marabou mammas have
been seen proudly parading around
with brood of diminutiye downy
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 1t nests In high
trees, but their statement is not con-
frmed.
In captivity the marabou 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 IN
til the hunger of this impudent bird is
satisfied and 1t has retiredto the warm
est corner for nap. The immense
strength of its bill makes 1t formula
bic enemy, and when fighting for food
1t VIII often overcome the largest vul-
lures and wage successful battles with
beasts OF prey.
The hyena inhaDits the same por-
tons OF Asia and Africa as the mara
bou, and travellers give accounts OF
terrible contests between these two
singular members OF the animal king
aom. IS nyena is called the vuifure
among oeasts. as II prefers carrion for
i's 1000, ana as long as !. can ma
eeau anllnaIs 70 uesour II ieaves tne
noeAs anu n.sfus ~ peaee 0o"aruiy
ny nature II rarely dtlachs inah Ut