28 



TEE COXDOR. 



to partake of tbe carnage. These the Indians believe to be brought 

 by having an instinctive presentiment of slaughter, some days before 

 the event. 



It is observed that Vultures, in general, become less numerous as the 

 climate becomes colder ; and that, in the more northern countries, they 

 are never found. Their presence is a kind disposition of Providence 

 ill the hotter regions, to prevent the putrid efliuvia of the dead from 

 too much injurintr the health of the living. 



TUE CONDOB. 



This bird considerably exceeds in size the largest eagle. Its ex- 

 panded wings some- 

 times extend to the 

 dimensions of eighteen 

 feet. Its body, bill, 



and talons, are pro- 



=g=g ^^ portionably large and 



_ strong; and its 



1^^^ courage is equal to its 



J^\ ^!B,CS^PS^^K7^^B^^^^^E strength. The throat 



/ I ' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^JM^^ is naked, and of a red 



f \ ^^^^^^^^ij^l^^^ M^^ ^^^t color. The upper 



"^^ parts, in some indi 

 B viduals, (for they diS'er 

 fc greatly in color,) are 

 variegated with black, 

 grey, and white; and 

 the belly is scarlet. 

 'i'he head of a Condor 

 that was shot at Port 

 Desire, off Penguin 

 Island, resembled that 

 of an eagle; except 

 that it had a large 

 comb upon it. Round 

 the neck it had a white 

 ruff, much resembling 

 s lady's tippet. The feathers on the back were as black as jet, and 

 perfectly bright. The legs were remarkably strong and large ; the 

 talons liko those of an eagle, except that they were not so sharp : and 

 the wings, when extended, measured, from point to point, twelve feet 

 in the Leverian Museum there were two specimens of the Condor, 

 •apposed to be male and female ; on the breast they had a kind of 

 pendulous, pear-shaped substance. The male measured ten feet from 

 tip to tip of the wings. The Condor is an inhabitant of South Amer- 

 ica. 



Of the strength of this enormous bird we may form some idea, 

 from the account that has been given of one of them which was shot 



