La Junta tribune., 1907-12-28
TWO QUEER ANIMALS
The Marabou and the Hyena Of
Central Africa.
BOTH vuLTuREs IN NATURE.
Each Gorses Itself on carrion, and ths
Bird and Beast Often Battle For
Their Food-Fairyliks Piumes That
Are as Light as Air.

The ugIicst storks in the world are
Africa. Their flesh colored heads are
only partially covered with stIff. wiry
feathers. and hanging on the breast
they bear II disgusting pouch. which
answers the purpose OF crop. one Of
the largest OF these storks is the mara
bou. II stalks about the great sandy
plains of central Africa with com
posure and II lordly grandeur, ms II II
were the most beautiful bird In the
world. Its body feathers are OF duh
metallic green color. aud Its wings and
tail are dingy black. Looking at the
awkward creature. no one would s'is-
pect that under It's upgainly 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 Il very large price.
The mnrabou feeds on cafrion. like
the vulturc. Its throat Is very large,
and II will grecdily eat everything that
comes in It's way. In the swnmps and
pains around Khartum. on the Nile.
are immense hocks of maruhons. ana
they are SO daring Us to come to the
slaughter ho;ises on the outskirts of
the city In search of food. and whole
OK ears and shin bones with hoof nt-
tachcd have been found IN the crops
of specimens which have been killed.
These birds are sklllful fishers. They
haunt the low marshy islands i'll the
rivers and lakes OF central Africa. with
elephants. monkeys, tiamincoes and
many varieties of birds for compan-
ions and gain their principal food fipni
the water. They often 20 In conipn-
nies of ten OF twelve TO fish. WadlnS
in the water, the birds form II 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 n hearty
meal.
Although murabou mammals have
been seen proudly parnding around
with brood of diminutirc downy
Young ones. so shy and retiring Is this
bird In itsssdomcstic habits that nat
uraists have been unable TO determine
when and how 1t builds It's nest, The
natives assert that 1t nests In high
trees, hut their statement Is not con-
tiuned.
In captivity lhc Inarabou Is lord OF
the Enclosure. and In geological gardens,
,,.tt a hnptI ,tItfipaI
no other birds or even small beasts
dare approach the feeding trough un-
til the hunger Of this impndent bird is
satisfied and II has retired TO the warm
est corner for n nap. The immense
strength of its bill makes 1t formida
BILE enemy. and when fighting for food
It viii often overcome the largest yul-
lures and wage successful battles with
beasts OF prey.
The hycna inhabits the same por-
tions Of Asia and Africa ms the mara
bou, ana travellers give accounts Of
terrible contests between these two
singular members of the animal king
dom. The hycna is called the vuture
among bcnsts. rs II prefers carrion for
IFS food. and as long as 1t can find
utuu HHlltl.ilS W UtNouT ~ NaNf' tbt
focks and herds In peace. Cowarlly
by nature. 1t rarely attacks man or
beast unless driven to desperation by
hunger.
The striped hyena inhabits the north
ern latitudes OF Africa, Persia and
Syria. willie the spotted species. which
is easily tanned and IL sometimes call
ed hycna dog. is found In large num-
'bers In the ynst plains of South Africa.
The hycua Is Il strange looking beast.
It has big head and n heavy. shaggy
name. The hind part OF its body Is
much lower than its shoulders. and It's
hind legs are short. This odd forma-
tion gives 1t an awkward. shambling
manner OF walking. which Is both lu-
dlcrous and hidcous.
This creature rarely shows itself by
day, but when the shadows OF night
fall on the plains and forests II comes
out from its home among the rocks
and cavcrns In search of food. Afri-
can travellers are much annoyed by It.
When the camp Is silent and all are
sleeping the hyena comes prowling
round. uttering hoarse human cries.
and should it fail to find sufficient
camp refuse to satisfy Its hunger some
poor donkey is sure to be torn In
pieces by Its terribly strong jaws.
Few animals have been the subject
Of so much superstition. In ancient
times 1t was believed that dog went
mad II a hyena turned Its evil eye mp
on 1t, and the beast was believed by
many to be a wicked sorcerer. who
went about in human form by day
and at night assumed the shape Of y
byena. The poor and ignorant peas
antry Of Arabia even at the present
day believe In the evil eye OF this
beast and are afraid to shoot It lest
thor aLnslld incIlr tho sztsafh NJ tho