416 FAMILY VULTURID.E ; CONDOR, KING VULTURE. 



has even been seen in this country. Its utility in Egypt and 

 other parts of the East, in clearing the streets of filth of every 

 description, has been often alluded to by travellers ; and it was 

 fully appreciated by the ancient Egyptians, as we may judge by 

 the frequent representations of this Bird upon their monuments. 

 Its common appellation is Pharaoh's Chicken. The Condor of 

 the Andes is the most remarkable of all the Vultures, in regard 

 to its size and strength, and the great height at which it soars. 

 Its dimensions have been much exaggerated, however ; its length 

 being usually somewhat more than four feet, and the expanse of 

 its wings about nine. Its breeding-place and habitual residence 

 is usually at a height of from 10,000 to 15,000 feet above the 

 level of the sea ; and it is often perceived soaring at an elevation 

 much above this. Besides feeding on carrion, the Condor will 

 frequently attack young goats and lambs ; and when two are in 

 company, they will set upon the Llama, and even the Puma, 

 persecuting the animal until it falls beneath the wounds inflicted 

 by the beaks of its assailants. The strength of the Condor and its 

 tenacity of life are both very great ; so that it is quite a sufficient 

 match even for a powerful man, if unarmed. The Condor, 

 like some others of the American Vultures, is distinguished by 

 the presence of fleshy caruncles, or comb-like appendages, 

 resembling the wattles of a Turkey, at the base of the beak and 

 on the forehead. The King Vulture of the inter-tropical regions 

 of America also belongs to the group thus characterised; it is 

 much smaller than the Condor ; but is remarkable for the 

 brilliancy of its appearance. Its general plumage is of a bright 

 fawn colour ; but the quill and tail feathers are glossy black, 

 whilst the ruff round the neck is of a delicate gray. The naked 

 skin of the head and neck is deeply tinged with mingled scarlet, 

 orange, and violet ; over the upper edge of the beak hangs a 

 loose comb of bright orange ; and there is a circle of scarlet round 

 the eyes, which contrasts singularly with the pearl white of the 

 iris. It is not a mountain Bird ; but inhabits the low humid 

 forests, keeping in subjection the Turkey-Buzzard and the Galli- 

 nazo, two smaller Vultures which frequent the same localities. 

 379. We next pass on to the family GYPOGERANID^E, which 



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