CLASS II. AVES: OliDEli 1. RAPTORES. 



57 



THE CUNDOR. 



by hunger alone, he descends into the nearest plains which border the Andes; but his stay in 

 this region is only for a few hours, as he prefers the desolate and lofty mountains and this rarefied 

 aerial space, in which human life would soon become extinct. The rocky eyries of the Peruvian 

 Andes, whose plain is elevated about fifteen thousand feet above the level of the sea, have hence 

 obtained the vernacular name of Condor JVesfs. Here, perched in dreary solitude on the crests of 

 scattered rocks, these dark, gigantic birds are seen silently reposing like melancholy specters, 

 rousing only from their slumbers at the calls of hunger. Their peculiar residence is the great 

 chain of the high Andes, where they associate, three or four together, upon the points of cliff's, 

 without either fearing or injuring man, so that they may be approached within four yards with- 

 out showing alarm, or making on their part any attempt at attack or defense. Hardly an instance 

 is really known of their even assaulting an infant, though some credulous naturalists, with the 

 exaggerating privilege of travelers, have given accounts of their killing young persons of even ten 

 or twelve years of age. Their ability for such rapine is not to be doubted, but their natural cow- 

 ardice forbids the attempt. A pair of condors will sometimes unite and attack the deer, the 

 puma, the vicuna, and the lama, and bring them down by a long and harassing pursuit. They 

 will also sometimes chase the wild heifer, occasionally wounding it with their bill and claws, until 

 the unfortunate animal, stifled and overcome with fatigue, extends its tongue, which these mon- 

 sters instantly seize and devour as a precious morsel. They also tear out the eyes of their vic- 

 tim, which soon falls prostrate to the earth and expires. The condors then gorge themselves, and 

 afterward rest in stupidity and almost gluttonous inebriation, perched upon the highest neighboring 

 rocks. The formidable hunter, now loaded with his meal, may be driven about without his at- 

 tempting to fly, and in this state the Indians sometimes pursue them with the lasso and easily 

 take them captive. Thus restrained, the condor makes extraordinary efforts to rise in the air, but 

 fatigued by the attempt, he begins to disgorge himself freely, an eff'ort he appears to assist by 

 lengthening and shortening his neck, and by bringing forward the sheath of his back." 

 Vol. II.— 8 



