THE CONDOR. 121 



naked head, his tremendous claws, and the great comb 

 which grows on his head, all together, make him a most 

 frightful looking animal. 



How many toes has the Condor 



This bird has four toes on each foot, three of them 

 standing forward and one backward. They are armed 

 with long, black, sharp claws, with which he can make 

 the most dreadful wounds. 



The Condor is not less ferocious in his manners, 

 than he appears to be by his looks. He destroys with- 

 out distinction any living creature that he can master, 

 and his wings are so large and his strength so great, 

 that it is said he can carry off a sheep, or calf without 

 difficulty. Even men are afraid of his approach, and 

 shun him as they would a wolf or tiger. 



A writer who travelled in South America, states that 

 he one day saw a Condor seated on a high rock, and 

 having approached within gun-shot, he fired at him ; 

 but his gun being only loaded with shot, the bird was 

 not brought to the ground, but flew to another place. 

 The traveller then loaded his gun with a bullet, and 

 fired at him again, when he fell to the ground mortally 

 wounded. On going to him, the gentleman found that 

 he was ready to defend himself in the most ferocious 

 and formidable manner, and was obliged to call the 

 help of another man, before he could conquer so ter- 

 rible an animal. 



The wings of this bird, says the traveller, were 

 twelve feet, three inches, from one tip to the other. 

 The quills were of a beautiful shining black, and two 

 feet four inches long. The bill was four inches long, 

 and of proportionate thickness ; its colour was black. 



