28 



THE CONDOR. 



to partake of the carnage. These the Indians believe to be brought 

 by having an instinctive presentiment of slaughter, some days before 

 the event. 



It is observed that Vultures, in general, become less numerous as the 

 climate becomes colder ; and that, in the more northern countries, they 

 are never found. Their presence is a kind disposition of Providence 

 in the hotter regions, to prevent the putrid effluvia of the dead from 

 fcoo much injuring the health of the living. 



THE CONDOR. 



This bird considerably exceeds in size the largest eagle. Its ex- 

 panded wings some- 

 times extend to the 

 dimensions of eighteen 

 feet. Its body, bill, 

 and talons, are pro- 

 portionably large and 

 strong; and its 

 courage is equal to its 

 strength. The throat 

 is naked, and of a red 

 color. The upper 

 parts, in some indi 

 viduals, (for they differ 

 greatly in color,) are 

 variegated with black, 

 grey, and white; and 

 the belly is scarlet 

 The head of a Condor 

 that was shot at Port 

 Desire, off Penguin 

 Island, resembled that 

 of an eagle; except 



that it had a large 

 comb upon it. Bound 

 CONDOR the neck it had a white 



ruff, much resembling 



ft lady's tippet. The feathers on the back were as black as jet, and 

 perfectly bright. The legs were remarkably strong and large ; the 

 talons liko those of an eagle, except that they were not so sharp : and 

 the wings, when extended, measured, from point to point, twelve feet 

 In the Leverian Museum there were two specimens of the Condor, 

 opposed to be male and female ; on the breast they had a kind of 

 pendulous, pear-shaped substance. The male measured ten feet from 

 tip to tip of the wings. The Condor is an inhabitant of South Amer- 

 ica. 



Of the strength of this enormous bird we may form some idea, 

 from the account that has been given of one of them which was shot 



