414 AVES—CONDOR. 
ing effects, it 1s immediately in a condition to soar to such a pitch as, 
spite of its magnitude, to become invisible to human sight. 
In captivity, it appears to have no other desire, than that of obtaining its 
regular supply of food. So long as that is afforded it, it manifests a perfect 
indifference to the circumstances in which it is placed. 
‘ 
THE CONDOR. 
Tuat the vulgar opinion of the immense size and ferocity of this, the 
largest of the American birds of prey, should have extended its influence over 
the minds even of scientific zoologists, can scarcely be regarded as affording 
1 Cathartes gryphus, Temmincx. The genus Cathartes has the beak long, compress- 
ed, straight, bent towards the point; cere naked, covering more than half the beak; upper 
mandible turned towards the point; head oblong, naked, as well as the upper part of the 
neck; nostrils in the middle of the bili, near the ridge of the upper pane, longitndi 
nally cleft, broad, sometimes surmounted by fleshy appendages; legs with tarsus naked, 
more or less slender; middle toe long, and united to the exterior one at the base. 
