CONDORS— O WLS 



399 



Condors. 



Magellan. The third genus of the group is Ibycter, with seven species, of which 

 one inhabits the Falkland Islands. 



Perhaps the most common South American condor (as it is 

 best to term the so-called American vultures) is the turkey-vulture 

 (Cathartes, or RliLnogryphus, aura), which, like its relative the black condor 

 (Catharista atrata, or Catharistes urubu), inhabits not only South and Central 

 America but the south of North America. The largest of all is the true condor 

 (Sarcorhamphus gryphus), which chiefly inhabits the Andes of Peru and Chile, 

 whence it ranges down south to Patagonia. A near relative of this species is 

 S. aiquatorialis of Ecuador ; while a more distinct type is represented by the king- 

 condor {Cathartes papa) 

 of Mexico and tropical 

 South America, a bird 

 the size of a hen-turkey, 

 mainly black and white 

 with brilliant colours on 

 the bare parts of the head 

 and neck. The condor is 

 becoming very rare, owing 

 to its being slaughtered 

 for its quills, which are 

 used for millinery pur- 

 poses. 



The condors form 

 the exclusively American 

 family Cathartidai, all 

 the members of which 

 are distinguished, among 

 other characters, from the 

 vultures ( Vulturidaj) of 

 the Old World by the 

 absence of a median verti- 

 cal partition between the 

 two apertures of the nos- 

 trils. The marked super- 

 ficial resemblance existing between condors and vultures may, doubtless, be 

 explained by the similar habits of these birds; just in the same way as swifts 

 resemble swallows, to which, however, they have no near relationship. 



Of the South American owls the most remarkable is the little 

 burrowing owl (Speotito cunicularia), individuals of which may be 

 seen at any hour of the day sitting in front of their burrows, greeting the passers-by 

 with a nod of their heads, and when disturbed flying screaming around the head 

 of the intruder. The chief haunts of the burrowing owl in North America are the 

 prairies, and in South America the pampas. In the latter these birds associate 

 with viscachas, while in North America they are generally found in parts 

 inhabited by prairie-marmots. 



THE CONDOR. 



Owls. 



