THE GREATEST FLYING CREATURE. 655 



The Condor, and his cousin, the California Vulture, weig-h about 

 the same as an Albatross," but the broad, rounded shape of their wings 

 gives them a much greater area, and this difference is, in turn, related 

 to differences in flight, for the great vultures soar high in the air, 

 while the Allmtross skims tlie sea, rarely rising to an elevation of 150 

 feet. 



It is to be noted, however, that the ((uestion of food has something 

 to do with the mode of fligiit. since the one bird s(>eks its food from 

 the surface of the water. whil(^ the other mounts aloft to scan the c^arth 

 in search of sometiiing eatalile. 



Huml)oldt is credited with having seen a Condor soaring above the 

 sunnnit of Chimborazo: liut that this or any bird ever attains such an 

 altitude'' is more than (|uestionable, and Whym])(n". the most recent 

 and most careful observer, puts the range of the gn^at Vulture at from 

 7,000 to 15,000 feet. 



The Condor is said to attain a spread of wing of 15 feet, but no bird 

 of anything like this size is ])reserved in any collection, and even 10 

 feet 6 inches from tij) to Up may be looked upon as exceeding the 

 normal or average size." As the Albatross averages 10 feet from tip 

 to tip. and is said by good observers to reach V2 or even 14 feet,'' it 

 may be pretty safely set down as liaA'ing the greatest stretch of wing 

 of anv animal now living. Certainlv the Albatross stands tirst in lenu'th 

 of wing l)ones. for these measure 8 feet o inches in the great wander- 

 ing Albatross, while the bones of a large Condor have a combined 

 length of but 6 feet \ inch. Moreo^■er, the AU)atross inhabits the 

 wind-swejjt seas of the Southern Hemispher(\ one of the stormiest 

 regions of the glo])e. and is continuall}' called ui)on to wield its pinions 

 in the teeth of gales, and the successful mannei- in which this is done 

 calls forth the admiration of the observer. 



So far as carrying weight is concerned, the Trum[)eter Swan stands 

 at or near the head of the list, for this ]>ird attains a weight of 28 

 pounds, and carries this far and fast with a spread of wing of 8 feet. 

 Its mode of flight is entirely different from that of the Albatross, being 



' A Califnriiia Vultmv, ] year old, in the National Zoologieal Park, weitrhed IS.] 

 pounds. 



''Birds are known to nuj,n-ate at a very (•onsideral)ie elevation, luit it is believed 

 that none have as yet l)een recorded so liigh as 4 miles. The heijrht of ( 'liiuil>orazo is 

 20,494 feet. 



'■.\ tine Condor from Patagonia had a spread of only 8 feet S inches, and the ("ali- 

 fornia ("ondor in the National Zoological Park at "Washington measures hut 9 feet 2.] 

 inchi'S across the ^•,ings. Like most large animals. Condors shrink wofully hefore a 

 tape line. 



''The largest of four .\ll)atrosses measuretl l)y Hie writer hu'l a spread of wings of 

 oidy 10 feet o inclies, but these were birds of 1 year and 2 years old, and many of 

 the old birds seen were certainly nnich larger. The ship's carpenter claimed to have 

 measured a bird of 12 feet spread. 



