BIUU3. 69 



I scfirccly knew how to lay hold of it. Hud it not been mor- 

 tnliy wounded, I should have found it no easy matter to take it ; 

 but I at last dragged it down from the rock, and with the assis- 

 tarice of one of the seamen, I carried it to my tent to make a 

 coloured drawing. 



" The wings of this bird, which I measured very exactly, were 

 twelve feet three inches (English) from tip to tip. The great 

 feathers, that were of a beautiful shining black, were two feet 

 four inches long. The thickness of the beak was proportion- 

 able to the rest of the body ; the length about four inches ; the 

 point hooked downwards, and white at its extremity ; the other 

 part was of a jet black. A short down of a brown colour, co- 

 vered the head ; the eyes were black, and surrounded with a 

 circle of reddish brown. The feathers on the breast, neck, and 

 M-iiigs, 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 proportion ; and the legs were covered with black 

 sciiles, 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 morning." 



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. It is supposed that the great bird called the 

 Rock, described by Arabian writers, and so much exaggerated 

 by fable, is but a species of the condor. The great bird of Tar- 

 nassar, in the East Indies, that is larger than thd eagle, as well 



