86 



HISTORY OF 



was of a jet black. A short down, of a brown 

 colour, covered the head ; the eyes were black, 

 and surrounded with a circle of reddish-brown. 

 The feathers on the breast, neck, and wings, were 

 of a light brown ; those on the back were rather 

 darker. Its thighs were covered with brown 

 feathers to the knee. The thigh-bone was ten 

 inches long, the leg five inches ; the toes were 

 three before, and one behind ; that behind was 

 an inch and a half, and the claw with which it 

 was armed was black, and three quarters of an 

 inch. The other claws were in the same pro- 

 portion ; and the leg was covered with black 

 scales, as also the toes ; but in these the scales 

 were larger. 



" These birds usually keep in the mountains, 

 where they find their prey ; they never descend 

 to the sea-shore but in the rainy season ; for as 

 they are very sensible of cold, they go there for 

 greater warmth. Though these mountains are 

 situated in the torrid zone, the cold is often very 

 severe ; for a great part of the year they are 

 covered with snow, but particularly in winter. 



" The little nourishment which these birds 

 find on the sea-coast, except when the tempest 

 drives in some great fish, obliges the condor to 

 continue there but a short time. They usually 

 come to the coast at the approach of evening ; 

 stay there all night, and fly back in the morn- 

 ing." 



It is doubted whether this animal be proper to 

 America only, or whether it may not have been 

 described by the naturalists of other countries. 



