1556 THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE 



so than in any other part of the world : among them 

 is the large vampire-bat, to which popular rumor has 

 assigned the most bloodthirsty propensities, though 

 it is in reality perfectly harmless, feeding chiefly 

 upon fruits, with a few insects. All the American 

 bats differ in species from those of the eastern con- 

 tinent. 



The ornithology of tropical America exceeds in 

 splendor that of any other region of the globe. 

 Among the principal birds of prey are several spe- 

 cies of eagle, including the large white-headed 

 eagle of the United States, with vultures, hawks, 

 kites, and owls. South America, however, possesses 

 the largest of the vulture tribe the gigantic condor of 

 the Andes, which is confined to the higher peaks of 

 those mountains, bordering on the limits of the snowy 

 region. This is one of the most powerful and ra- 

 pacious of birds, and commits numerous ravages 

 among the cattle, deer, and other animals. The 

 American ostrich, or emu, which dwells in the pam- 

 pas of that region, is also distinguished by its size. 

 The turkey is American, and is the only one of the 

 domestic poultry that has been derived from the New 

 World.* The toucans, distinguished by their enor- 

 mous bills, are peculiar to America. 



* The turkey had been domesticated by the Mexicans, from 

 whom the Spaniards introduced it into Europe. It had already 

 become tolerably common in England before the close of the 

 Sixteenth Century, and in Spain and the south of Europe much 

 earlier in date. 



The potato, maize, the cinchonas, tobacco, and the turkey, 

 have been pronounced the five great gifts of the New World 

 to the Old. 



