THE VULTURE. 45 



Modes of taking the condor. 



ing himself with the hide of a newly skinned ani- 

 mal, goes out, and so manages it, that the condor 

 will frequently attempt to attack him in this dis- 

 guise : other persons that have hidden them- 

 selves then come forward to his assistance ; and, 

 all at once falling on the bird, overpower and 

 kill it. A dead carcase is also sometimes put 

 within a very high inclosure ; and when the con- 

 dor has satiated himself, and is umible to rise 

 freely, persons are in readiness to subdue him. 

 Sometimes also they are caught by means of 

 traps and springs. 



THE VULTURE. 



THE vulture is commonly found in many of 

 the wanner parts both of Europe, Asia, and Ame- 

 rica ; but is totally unknown in England. Its 

 length is about four feet and a half, and its 

 weight, in general, betwixt four and tive pounds. 

 The head is small, and covered with a red skin, 

 beset only with a few black bristles, which gives 

 it a distant resemblance to a turkey. The co- 

 lour of the plumage is dusky, mixed with purple 

 and green. The legs are of a dirty flesh-colour, 

 and the claws black. 



The bodies of these birds are extremely offen- 

 sive to the smell; and they perch at nights on 

 rocks or trees, with their wings' partly extended, 

 apparently to purify themselves. They soar to a 



