636 RAPTORES, OK BIRDS OF PREY. 



ing itself, it traverses the aerial space with majestic ease and 

 grandeur. Almost imperceptible movements of the wings are 

 sufficient to carry it in every direction ; at one moment it is 

 skimming over the surface of the ground, now it is up in the 

 clouds, three thousand feet above. The Condor's power of vision 

 is so great that it commands a view of the plain beneath from 

 the greatest heights, and although it is no longer visible to 

 the denizens of earth, their slightest movements cannot escape its 

 piercing sight. When it catches view of prey, it partly folds 

 its wings and descends upon it with the rapidity of lightning. 



Although thus endowed with such powerful means of action, the 

 Condor never attacks living animals unless they are helpless from 

 youth, or enfeebled by disease. The stories of some travellers con- 

 cerning the boldness of this bird are not founded on fact. It 

 is inaccurate to state that the Condor will attack a man, as a 

 child of ten years old, armed with a stick, has been known to put 

 it to flight. It has been asserted that this bird will carry off 

 lambs, young llamas, and even children, but this statement will 

 not hold good when subjected to examination ; for the Condor, 

 like all the Vulture tribe, has short toes and non-retractile claws ; 

 it is, therefore, radically impossible for it to clutch and carry prey 

 of any considerable weight. 



It is, however, a fact beyond all question that the Condor is in 

 the habit of prowling round flocks of sheep and cows ; and, like 

 the Caracara, will fall upon and devour newly-born animals. It 

 accompanies the caravans which cross the plains of South America, 

 and when an unfortunate pack animal, worn out with fatigue 

 and privation, sinks down exhausted, totally unable to proceed on 

 the journey, it becomes the prey of these winged banditti, which 

 often commence their meal before life has left the body. M. de 

 Castelnau, who has observed the Condor in the Andes, writes 

 with regard to this subject : 



" Travellers who have sunk down upon the ground when utterly 

 worn out with fatigue and suffering have been known to be 

 attacked, tormented, and finally torn to pieces by these ferocious 

 birds, which pluck strips of flesh off their victims, having first 

 disabled them with blows of the wing. The unfortunates may 

 resist for a few instants, but ere long a few blood-stained frag- 



