THE CONDOR. 359 



all the vicunas before them towards the entrance of the circle. 

 As soon as the animals have entered, it is closed. The vicunas, 

 afraid to spring over the ropes with the coloured rags flutter- 

 ing in their faces, are attacked by the hunters Avith their 

 bolas, the hind-legs being generally aimed at. The huanucus, 

 which are much wilder, invariably leap the barriers and escape, 

 when frequently the vicunas follow their example. As soon 

 as the animals within the chasqu are killed, it is carried off 

 and again erected at a distance of twelve or more miles, when 

 the same operation is gone through. Thus from one hundred 

 to three hundred animals are killed during the chase, which 

 generally lasts for a week. 



Notwithstanding the opposition from the Peruvian govern- 

 ment, a large herd of alpacas were, some years ago, successfully 

 carried to the coast and shipped off to Australia, where, in a 

 high and dry district, they appear to be flourishing. 



THE CONDOR. 



The traveller standing on the rocky heights of the Cordil- 

 leras, at an elevation which Etna does not surpass, though 

 still with many a snow-capped mountain romid him, may see, 

 on one of the dizzy pinnacles amid which he stands, a vast 

 bird. It is the condor, the largest of the vulture tribe ; the 

 monarch of the birds of that region. He may know it by 

 the glossy black colour, tinged with gray, of its body ; the 

 greater wing- coverts, except at the base and tips, and the 

 quill-feathers being mostly white. Round the neck is a white 

 luff of down ; the skin of the head and neck is excessively 

 wrinkled, and is of a dull reddish colour with a tinge of purple. 

 Surmounting the forehead is a large, firm comb, with a loose 

 skin under the bill which can be dilated at pleasure. Now 



