THE LARGEST BIRDS THAT FLY 347 



to Layard {Birds of South Africa), weighs from 

 30 lb. to 35 lb. 



Mr Carl Schneritz informed me in 1899 that he 

 shot two of these large African Bustards on the 

 high veld between Scheenspruit and Rustenberg 

 in the Transvaal, and that the larger of the two, a 

 male, measured 4 feet 6 in. in length, 9 feet in expanse 

 of wing, and weighed ^y lb. The hen bird, which 

 was smaller, weighed 30 lb. These weights were 

 carefully ascertained by the late General Smith 

 with his own scales on his farm at Oliphant's Nek. 



From a comparison of the measurements given 

 in the foregoing table it will be seen that there is 

 not much difference in the dimensions of the larger 

 eagles above mentioned, all of which are less than 

 those of the largest vultures. The far-famed 

 Lammergeier does not exceed in size the Griffon 

 Vulture, nor does it weigh so much by several 

 pounds ; while in point of size the Giant Albatross 

 of the Southern Ocean, with an average expanse of 

 1 1 feet 4 in. has to yield to the Condor of Chili, 

 whose extended pinions have in many cases 

 measured 12 feet, and in one instance, on good 

 authority, the almost incredible width of 15 feet. 



