36 BIRDS OF PREY. 



museum proved the bird to be either the present species, 

 or the nearly allied Vultur calif ornianus. The migra- 

 tion of these birds into this cool alpine region is in con- 

 formity with their habits in the milder climates of Mexico 

 and South America, where, according to Humboldt, they 

 are known to soar to an elevation almost six times greater 

 than that at which the clouds are ordinarily suspended 

 over our heads. At the immense height of nearly 6 per- 

 pendicular miles, the Condor is seen majestically sailing 

 in the ethereal space, watchfully surveying the vast ex- 

 panse in quest of his accustomed prey. Elevated farther 

 above our planet than any other animal, impelled by hun- 

 ger alone he descends into the nearest plains "which bor- 

 der the Cordilleras ; but his stay in this region is only 

 for a few hours, as he prefers these desolate and lofty 

 mountains, and this rarified aerial space, in which the 

 barometer only attains an elevation of about 16 inches. 

 These rocky eyries of the Peruvian Andes (whose plain 

 is elevated about 15,000 feet above the level of the sea,) 

 have hence obtained the vernacular name o£ Conddrnests. 

 Here, perched in dreary solitude, on the crests of scat- 

 tered rocks, at the very verge of the region of perpetual 

 snow, these dark gigantic birds are seen silently reposing 

 like melancholy spectres, rousing only from their slum- 

 bers at the calls of hunger. Their peculiar residence is 

 the great chain of the high Andes, where they associate 

 3 or 4 together upon the points of cliffs without either 

 fearing or injuring men, so that they may be approached 

 within 4 yards without showing alarm, or making on 

 their part any attempt at attack. Hardly an instance is 

 really known of their even assaulting an infant, though 

 some credulous naturalists, with the exaggerating privi- 

 lege of travellers, have given accounts of their killing 

 yourig. persons of 10 or 12 years of age. Their ability 



