CATHARTES. 637 



merits are all that remain to announce to the passer-by the 

 horrible death of those who preceded him on these dangerous 

 paths." 



The Condor possesses extraordinary tenacity of life. Hum- 

 boldt relates that he found it impossible to strangle one, and that 

 he was compelled to shoot it to put an end to its existence. 



When the Condor is gorged with food it becomes very heavy, 

 and can scarcely fly. The Indians, who are well aware of this 

 peculiarity, take advantage of it to destroy the robber thus : 

 Carrion is placed in full view to entice the Condors. When the 

 birds have thoroughly surfeited themselves they are hunted on 

 horseback and entangled with lassoes, to be finally beaten to 

 death with clubs. 



Condors do not assemble in flocks except when devouring some 

 animal of great size. The hen bird lays a couple of eggs in 

 some crevice on the mountains or cliffs : nest-building they 

 entirely disregard. The rearing of the young requires several 

 months ; the parent birds feed them by disgorging into their bills 

 the food which they have stored in their crops. All the Yulture 

 tribe do the same. 



The Condor is tamed with difficulty ; captivity seems only to 

 increase its savage nature. Humboldt kept one at Quito for 

 eight days, and he states that to approach it was always dan- 

 gerous. 



The KING VULTURE (Sarcorampkus papa), Fig. 302, is distin- 

 guished from the Condor by its collar, or ruff, which is of a slate 

 colour, and surrounds the neck ; also by its crest, of an orange hue, 

 situated on the top of the bill. Instead of confining itself to arid 

 and barren localities, it frequents plains and wooded hills, and 

 nests in the hollows of old trees. Its habits are, however, very 

 much the same as those of the Condor. It has been named the 

 King of the Vultures because the other Vultures dread it, as it 

 appropriates their prey. It is found in Mexico, Guiana, Peru, 

 Brazil, and Paraguay, and occasionally in Florida, doubtless its 

 most northern habitat. In this species the female has a crest 

 as well as the male. 



The genus Cathartes of Illiger has a long and elongated 

 bill; the head and neck bare; the nostrils oblong and pierced 



