THE CON1KKR. 43 



Habits Depredations. 



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 co- 

 vered with snow, but particularly in winter. 



" The h'ttTe nourishment which these birds 

 find on the sea-coast, except when a tempest 

 drives in some great fish, obliges the condors tx 

 continue there but a short time. They usually 

 come to the coast at the approach, of everting, 

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

 ing." 



It has been asserted by some writers, that thff 

 condor is twice as large as the eagle, and so* 

 strong that it can pounce and carry off a sheep; 

 that it devours even stags, and easily overthrows 

 a man. Others relate, that its bealcis sufficiently 

 firm to pierce a cow's hide, and that two of them 

 are able to kill that animal and devour the 

 carcase. 



Ulloa, in his voyage to South America, relates/, 

 that he once saw a condor seize and fly away 

 with a lamb. " Observing," says he, f< on a hill 

 adjoining to that where I stood, a flock of sheep 

 in great confusion, I saw one of these birds flying 

 upwards from among them with a lamb betwixt 

 its claws ; and when at some height, it dropped. 

 it. The bird immediately followed, took it up 

 and let it fall a second time; when it flew out of 

 F 2 



