22 THECONDOR. 



It inhaU-ts the whole chain of the Andes of Mexico, Pcrt^ 

 Chili, and Patagonia to the Straits of Magellan, and, on the 

 authority of Lewis and Clarke, they are sometimes seen in 

 the range of the Rocky Mountains, towards the sources of 

 the Missouri. Their peculiar residence is the great chain 

 of the high Andes, where they associate three or four together 

 upon the points of cliffs without either fearing or injuring 

 men, so that they may be approached within four yards with- 

 out 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 privilege of travellers, have given 

 accounts of their killing young persons of ten or twelve years 

 of age. Their ability for such rapine is not to be doubted, 

 but their natural cowardice forbids the attempt. At the 

 same time, it is not uncommon to see them follow and hover 

 around a young bull until they have torn out his eyes and 

 tongue. 



A pair of Condors will not only in this way attack tho 

 deer of the Andes, the puma or American lion (our 

 panther), the yicogne, and the llama (or American camel), 

 but also the wild heifer. They will pursue it for a long 

 time, occasionally wounding it with their bill and claws, unti) 

 the unfortunate animal, now stifled and overcome with 

 fatigue, extends its tongue and groans ; on which occasion 

 the Condor seizes this member, being a very tender and 

 faTorit43 morsel, and tears out the eyes of his prey, which al 



