1839.] birds. 149 



age for packing is prepared from the maguey, and atTarma, 

 loose cloaks, or ponchos, are made, of great beauty and firm- 

 ness. In the Sierra, coarser and heavier blankets and pon- 

 chos are manufactured by the Indians. In the lower districts, 

 goat skins are made into cordovans ; cow hides into saddle- 

 bags, and travelling cases for beds and bedding ; and rushes 

 into mats and carpets. 



(9.) The bay of Callao abounds with the finest water-fowl. 

 Humboldt's penguin, and the common gray penguin, are the 

 most remarkable. There is another small species, called by 

 the Peruvians the paxdro nino, or child-bird ; it is easily 

 tamed, and follows its master like a dog, waddling alone; 

 after him on its short legs and balancing itself with its winsrs. 

 Among the other marine birds, are the banded cormorant; the 

 iris, which changes throughout the whole circle in regular 

 square spots of the most delicate white and sea-green; and 

 the spotted gannet, and the inca tern. 



Of the land birds, the turkey, or red-headed vulture, is, 

 perhaps, the most commonly seen on the coast, and in the 

 interior the black gallinazo takes its place. There are some 

 beautiful gold-feathered colibri in the country. A small bird 

 about the size of the starling, of a deep blue color, and with 

 a short curved bill, is called the horse-protector ; it is ex- 

 tremely fond of perching on the back of the horse or ass and 

 catching the flies and insects — a kind of amusement which 

 both the animal and bird enjoy with equal zest. The 

 principal singing birds are the crowned fly-king, the red-, 

 bellied picho, the black chivillo, and the cuculi ; the picho 

 and chivillo are of the starling species, and the cuculi is a 

 pigeon. 



The most extravagant notions once prevailed respecting 

 the size and strength of the condor, the king of Peruvian 

 birds. A full grown condor measures from twelve to thirteen 

 feet, from the tip of one wing to that of the other, and about 

 five feet from the point of its beak to the extremity of its 

 tail. It feeds chiefly on carrion. When hungry it is some- 

 times extremely fierce, and will seize and carry off lambs 



