416 FAMILY VULTURID.E ; CONDOR, KING VULTURE. 



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 Condor, like the rest of the 

 American Vultures, has fleshy wattles about the head and the 

 base of the bill. The King Vulture of the inter-tropical regions 

 of America 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 g'ray. 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 Gallinazo, two smaller Vultures which frequent the same 

 localities. 



379. Some of the Vultures approach the Eagles in conform- 

 ation and habits ; this is the case with the Griffins, which 

 belong to the genus Gypaetus, a term that includes the Greek 

 names of both Eagle and Vulture. As an example of this group, 

 we may briefly describe the Lammergeyer, or Bearded Griffin of 

 the Alps. This is a Bird fully equalling the largest Eagle in 

 size ; measuring four feet from the bill to the end of the tail, 



