ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



319 



Willamette River, and placed in an enclosure 

 in the forest. For two months the bird was 

 under the closest observation from day to day 

 and was treated to a diet of a pound of raw 

 meat twice a day and plenty of fresh water. 

 Especial attention was given to the bird's feed- 

 ing in order to determine whether the natural 

 propensity to live on carrion would manifest 

 itself. It was found ultimately that it ate the 

 fresh raw meat by choice and would never 

 touch anything else unless driven to do so by 

 the absence of any other food. 



This, however, was but one of the important 

 observations jotted down. How the young 

 condor began to master the use of his wings is 

 best told in Mr. Finley's own words : 



"When "General" was 150 days old he was 

 Avell fledged, except that his breast was still 

 covered with gray down. His wing feathers 

 were strong, but they were not yet able to sup- 

 port his heavy body. If we did not let him out 

 of his cage a part of each day, he became very 

 restless. When the gate was opened he would 

 stop a moment or two, look about and stalk 

 slowly out. He did nothing without delibera- 

 tion. Then, with several hops he would go 

 half-way across the yard, clapping his big 

 wings, and going through a regular dance, 

 jumping up in the air several times in succes- 

 sion. On his removal from his wild native 

 haunt he had lost his wildness and had now 

 become gentle and fond of those who cared 

 for him. He loved to be petted and fondled. 

 would nibble at my hand, run his nose up my 

 sleeve, and bite the buttons on my coat. Every 

 move he made was with care, as if afraid of 

 being too rough. If scared or struck at he 

 would strike back, but there was never the 

 least inclination of savageness when well 

 treated. 



"One would think there could be little at- 

 tachment for a vulture, but there is nothing 

 treacherous or savage in the condor nature. 

 Contrary to expectation, he was cleanly in his 

 habits. Becoming accustomed to fresh meat, 

 he would take nothing else, and if it was the 

 least bit dirty he would refuse it : while game, 

 such as squirrel and rabbit, he would not touch 

 if he could get fresh beef. \Mien mixed with 

 squirrel meat, the beef would be eaten and the 

 other left. He would gnaw a good bone with 

 as much eagerness as a dog until there was not 

 a bit of meat left on it." 



The ornithologists composing the audience 

 gave frequent evidence of their appreciation of 

 the splendid photographic illustrations of the 

 young condor extending his wings and posing 



in obedience to his captor's wishes. Scientific 

 men well know the aversion that wild birds and 

 animals have to the camera, and "General" 

 was in the beginning no exception to this rule. 

 Mr. Finley attributed this dislike not only to 

 natural causes, but to the fact that when the 

 young condor was first taken out of his nest 

 in his wild state he had hissed in defiance at 

 being posed before the camera and fought like 

 a demon. After having been in captivity for 

 several months and having received considera- 

 tion at the hands of his captors his attitude 

 toward them changed, but remained as before 

 toward any stranger coming to the camp. 



At times the young condor was as playful as 

 a pup. Mr. Finley said, and after having his 

 breakfast, would jump down from his perch 

 and toy with a stick in true canine fashion, 

 shaking it in his bill, and then dropping it only 

 to jump upon it with both feet and toss it up 

 again. He was extremely fond of pulling on 

 a rope, and would strain at the guy lines of the 

 canvas tents in a way that seemed to threaten 

 their demolition. A rope dragged along the 

 ground he would watch and follow like a kitten 

 after a string. He learned to follow his owner 

 about and to come when called. If a ladder 

 was stood up against a tree, he would hop up, 

 rung by rung, to the top, and then fly off, only 

 to repeat the experiment again and again. He 

 liked to be petted and amused, and showed 

 great interest in any sign of activity about the 

 camp. 



One of the novel characteristics discovered 

 was the young condor's fondness for bathing. 

 He would go down to the creek near the camp 

 and patter along in the water for an hour at 

 a time. A piece of broken china or a little wad 

 of white paper would attract his eye. He 

 would get under a water spout and wallow in 

 the pool. When thoroughly soaked, he would 

 step out into the sun for a moment and then 

 suddenly go back again. He would keep this 

 up until almost exhausted by the exercise, and 

 would then want to take a sun bath and sprawl 

 in the sand. 



From all these observations Mr. Finley has 

 come to the conclusion that there are many 

 good characteristics in this bird, which has 

 always been considered a degenerate and the 

 incarnation of ugliness in the feathered tribe. 

 The bird was not stupid, noticed everything, 

 took human companionship not passively, but 

 with evident appreciation, showed anger only 

 when there was cause, and demonstrated his 

 strong instinct for cleanliness and a diet of 

 good food. Behind his rough exterior and 



