264 OVER THE EASTEEN COEDILLEEA. 



appeared. The only sign of life upon these elevated, 

 barren tracts is the condor, that may often be seen sweep- 

 ing in majestic circles far above the highest peaks. The 

 home of this bird is between the elevations of two and 

 three miles ; but in its flights it frequently rises to a 

 height of over four miles, and yet at that immense alti- 

 tude it soars as easily as when it sweeps, as occasionally it 

 does, through tlie dense air of the low coast. Humboldt 

 estimates that he saw it at an elevation of over twenty- 

 three thousand feet ; the greatest elevation attained by 

 any living thing, with the exception of some microscopic 

 insects, which are often carried much higher by upward 

 currents of air. The spread of wings of the condor is 

 from nine to thirteen feet. Notwithstanding this great 

 expanse, such is the elevation to which the condor rises, 

 that we have observed it, when we were standing at a 

 height of sixteen thousand feet, to appear as a mere speck, 

 projected against the sky above us. When in the air its 

 wings are motionless. It is diflicult to conceive how a 

 bird of so great a size can support itself, seemingly with- 

 out any effort. " In the case of any bird soaring," says 

 Darwin, " its motion must be sufficiently rapid, so that the 

 action of the incline surface of the body upon the atmos- 

 phere may counterbalance its gravity." This motion he 

 supposes to be given by the movement of the neck and 

 body of the bird. The same authority says that it is 

 frequently captured at night by the Chilenos while it is 

 perching in the trees upon the low coast. We were told 

 of a different method more generally employed by the In- 

 dians. A low palisade is formed, enclosing a circle within 

 which is placed the body of some animal, that soon at- 

 tracts these keen-sighted vultures. After they have gorged 

 themselves they are imablc to rise, on account of the con- 

 tracted circle, as they cannot leave the ground without 

 takinii" a run of some distance. 



