118 THE VULTURE. 



attracted by some dead animal, rode up, and found a numerous 

 flock round the carcase of a horse. One of the largest was 

 standing with one foot on the ground, and the other in the 

 horse's body, exhibiting a singular force of muscular power, 

 as he lifted the flesh and tore off great pieces, sometimes 

 shaking his head, and pulling with his beak, or sometimes 

 pushing with his leg. As the man approached, one of them, 

 which appeared to be gorged, rose up, and flew about fifty 

 yards off, when it alighted, and he rode up to it, and then 

 jumping down, seized the bird by the neck. The contest 

 was severe, and never probably was such a battle seen before, 

 as a Cornish miner and a Condor. The man declared he 

 never had had such a trial of strength in his life, that he put 

 his knee upon the bird's breast, and tried with all his might 

 to twist its neck, but that the Condor, objecting to this, 

 struggled most violently, and he fully expected that several 

 others which were flying over his head would take part 

 against him, and assist their companion. At length, how- 

 ever, he succeeded, as he supposed, and carrying off the pinion- 

 quills in triumph, left the bird for dead ; but so tenacious are 

 they of life, and so difficult to kill, that another horseman 

 who passed the spot some time after, found it still living and 

 struggling. 



Figure 2 



Feeding, as Vultures do, on carrion, plunging their beaks 

 into putrid masses of decayed flesh, were they covered with 

 feathers like Eagles and Hawks, about their heads and necks, 

 they would soon become clotted with gore, and be an incum- 



