4 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family II. Sarcorhamphidse. (Gr. 2up, flesh ; /5u/z<pf, beak.) 



SARCORHAMPHOS. 



Gryphon (Gr. Tpvi^, a Griffon), the Condor. 



The CONDOR inhabits the Andes of South America, always 

 choosing its residence on the summit of a solitary rock. It ap- 

 pears that this bird does not build any nest, but lays its two 

 white eggs on the bare rock after the manner of many sea 

 birds. It is a very large bird, but by no means the gigantic 

 creature some former naturalists relate, with wings twenty 

 feet in length, and powerful enough to carry off a horse. The 

 real expanse of wing is about nine or ten feet, and the length 

 of the bird about four feet. It is, however, exceedingly strong 

 and very tenacious of life. Two Condors will attack and kill 

 the llama, or even the puma ; for by their repeated buffeting 

 and pecking they weary it so completely that it yields to their 

 perseverance. 



