ALTITUDE AND SPEED OF FLIGHT 



CHAPTER V 



The Condor. Gatke's Views. Evidence of Astronomers. 

 Colonel Meinertzhagen's Opinions. Relative Rates op 

 Speed. Discredited Estimates. Notes by Professor 

 Newton and Mr. Tegetivieier. Dr. Eagle Clarke's Dictum. 

 Colonel Meinertzhagen's Estimate made by Means of 

 Theodolites, with a Table of Velocities of Normal 

 Migratory Flight. 



On the question of height, there is little doubt 

 that certain of the larger soaring birds attain 

 to elevations which appear to be vi^ell-nigh in- 

 credible. The condor is believed to be the species 

 which mounts highest in the atmosphere. Hum- 

 bolt described the flight of this bird in the Andes 

 to be at least 20,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. From the cave of Antisana, elevated 12,958 

 feet above the level of the Pacific Ocean, he states 

 that he saw the condor soaring at a perpendicular 

 height of 6,876 feet. He notes as a remarkable 

 fact that this bird, which continues to fly in 

 regions where the air is so rarified, descends all 

 at once to the edge of the sea, and thus, in a very 

 brief time, passes through all the variations of 

 climate. At a height of 20,000 feet, he remarks, 

 the air-cells of the condor, which are filled in the 

 lowest regions, must be inflated in an extraor- 

 dinary manner. 



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