2oe 



VERTEBRATES. 



The Condor. 



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, exceed- 

 ingly strong, and very tena- 

 cious of life. Two condors 

 will attack and kill the llama, 

 or even the puma ; for by their 

 repeated buffeting and pecking 

 they weaiy it so completely 

 that it yields to their perse- 

 verance. 



The Vulture. — Of this 

 voracious bird there are seve- 

 ral kinds, the Bearded Vul- 

 ture, the Great California Vul- 

 ture, the King Vulture, the 

 Griffon Vulture, and the 

 Egyptian Vulture. There is something unsightly and very for- 

 bidding in their appearance. Their neck is long and almost bare 

 Their legs are covered with feathers to the very feet, each of which 

 has four toes, three before and one behind. 

 They select^ lofty rocks as a place for 

 building their nests. It is believed that 

 their age sometimes extends to a century. 

 Their sight is remarkably quick, and their 

 scent most acute. It is considered that 

 they can detect dead carcasses at the dis- 

 tance of fifty miles. They delight above 

 all to feed upon the dead bodies of human 

 beings, but feed on nothing that has life. 

 The more corrupted and putrefying the 

 carcase, the greater their enjoyment, and the greater the relish 

 with which they devour it. They follow armies, in expectation of 

 feasting upon the bodies of the slain. It is said they are great 

 enemies to serpents. 



The Bearded Vulture inhabits most mountain ranges, and 



The Oreat California Vultnre. 



