The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-31
TWO QUEER ANIMALS
The Marabou and the Hyena oil
Central Africa.
BOTH VULTURES IN NATURE.
Each Gorses Itself on Carbon, and the
Bird and Beast Often Battle For
Their Food-Fairylike PIumss That
Are as Iiaht az Air.

Africa Their flesh colored heads are
only partially covered with stiff. wiry
feathers. aud hanging on the breast
they bear a disgusting pouch. which
answers the purpose of n 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 it
were the most beautiful bird in the
world Its body feathers are of dull
metallic green color. and its wings ana
tail are dingy black. Looking at the
awkward creature, no one would sus-
pect that under its unSainly wings it
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 q very large price.
The marabOu feeds on carriOn, like
the vulture. Its throat is very large,
and it will greedily eat everything that
comes In its way. In the swampS 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 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 a 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 hearty
meal.
Although marabou mammas have
been seen proudly parading around
with brood Of diminutive downy
young ones, so shy and retiring Is this
bird in it's domestic habits that nat
uraliSts have been Unable to determine
when and how it builds it's nest. The
natives assert that 1t nests in high
trees, but their statement is not con-
firmed.
In captivity the marabou is lord OF
the Enclosure, and in geological gardens,
where specimens have been confined,
no other birds or even small beasts
dare approach the feeding trough I'M
til the hunger of this impudent bird is
satisfied and it has retired to the warm
est corner for q nap. The immense
strength of it's bill makes 1t a formida-
BILE enemy, and when fighting for food
1t will often overcome the largest vul-
lures and wage successful battles with
beasts of prey.
The hyena inhabits the same por
lions Of Asia and Africa as the mara
bou. and travellers give accounts OF
terrible contests between these two
singular members of the animal king
dom. The hyena is called the vulture
among beasts, as it prefers carrion fol
| its food, and as long as it can find
| dead animals to devour it leaves the
fiocks and herds in peace. Coward.
by nature, it rarely attacks man OIL
| beast unless driven to desperation BY
| hunger.
The striped hyena inhabits the north
ern ATTITUDES Of Africa, Persia anG
Syria, while the spotted species. which
| is easily tanned and is sometimes call
ed hyena dog, is found in large mum
bers in the vast plains of South Africa
t. 1y,;- hno
1t has a big head and a heavy, shaggy
name. The hind part of its body |!
much lower than it's shoulders. and it:
hind legs are short. This odd forma
ton gives it an awkward, shamblins
manner of walking, which Is both lu
dicrous and hideous.
This creature rarely shows itself b!
day, but when the shadows OF nigh
fall on the plains and forests it come
and caverns In search Of food. Afri
can travellers are much annoyed by ii
When the camp is silent and all ar
sleeping the hyena comes prowlini
round, uttering hoarse human cries
and should it fail to find sufficien
camp refuse to satisfy its hunger som
poor donkey is sure to be torn il
pieces by its terribly strong jaws.
Few animals have been the subjec
Of so much superstition. In ancien
times it was believed that dog wen
mad if a hyena turned its evil eye VI
on II, and the beast was believed b.
many to be a wicked sorcerer. VIII
went about in human form by da
and at night assumed the shape OF
hyena. The poor and ignorant peas
antry of Arabia even at the presen
day believe in the evil eye of thi
beast and are afraid to shoot it les
they should incur the wrath Of til
wicked spirit which they imagin
walks the earth in this ugly form.
The poo. hyena. however, far fror
being an evil spirit, is a real blessin
to the regions it inhabits. as it is
natural scavenger. provided by I'll
kind wisdom Of nature to clear tn
ground Of much loathsome and deca!
ing matter. thereby rendering the a.
sweeter and purer and more healthfu
SDpcialistS are going pack to Ii