ie DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS Il. AVES. 
heavy, and they seldom soar in the air. They run, however, rather quickly 
slong the ground, waiting their share of the carcass, on which the turkey- 
leseanis have commenced their feast. It is in the neighborhood of the 
slaughtering-houses -on the River Plata that they are most common, where 
they feed on the offal of the animals killed. Worms and insects also form 
a portion of their food; and further, they are stated to attack young lambs 
and birds in small parties.” 
FamILty VULTURIDZ. VULTURES AND CONDORS. 
The sub-families of this group, as characterized on a preceding page, are 
distributed in both Worlds, and are well known. Our limits will permit a 
consideration of but two of the most interesting species. 
The Condor (Sarcoramphus gryphus) is one of the largest of the feath- 
ered tribe. It is found among the Andes of South America, to which local- 
ity it seems restricted. 
The elevation chosen by the Condor as its breeding-place and habitual 
residence, varies from ten thousand feet to fifteen thousand above the level 
of the sea; and here, on some isolated pinnacle or jutting ledge, it rears its 
brood, and looks down upon the plains below for food. It is generally seen 
singly or in pairs, seldom in large companies; though, among the basaltic 
cliffs of the St. Cruz, Mr. Darwin found a spot where scores usually haunt. 
“On coming,” he says, “to the brow of the precipice, it was a fine sight to 
see between twenty and thirty of these great birds start heavily from their 
Ly 
resting-places, and wheel away in majestic circles.” It appears that many 
clusters of rocks, or high, precipitous crags, are named after these birds : 
the appellations, in the language of the Incas, meaning the “ Condor’s look-. 
out,” the “ Condor’s roost,” the “ Condor’s nest,” &e. 
High over the loftiest pinnacles may the Condor often be seen soaring, 
borne up on outspread wings, describing, in its flight, the most graceful spires 
and circles. “ Except when rising from the ground,” says Mr. Darwin, “Ido 
not recollect ever having seen one of these birds flap his wings. Near Lima, 
I watched several for nearly half an hour, without once taking off my eyes. 
They move in large curves, sweeping in circles, descending and ascending, 
without once flapping. As they glided close over my head, I intently 
watched, from an oblique position, the outlines of the separate and terminal 
feathers of the wing: if there had been the least vibratory movement, these 
would have blended together; but they were scen distinct against the 
blue sky. The head and neck were moved frequently, and apparently with 
force; and it appeared as if the extended wings formed the fulerum on 
which the movements of the neck, body, and tail acted. If the bird wished 
to descend, the wings were for a moment collapsed ; and then, when again 
