CAPTIVE CONDORS. 185 



On my return from a delightful walk, I found much- 

 desired letters from home awaiting me, and along 

 with them" the less welcome information that the 

 departure of the Triumph was delayed for several 

 weeks. Renouncing with regret the agreeable pro- 

 spect of a voyage in company with Captain Markham, 

 I at once wrote to secure a passage in the German 

 steamer Rkamses, announced to leave "Valparaiso on 

 May 28. 



Among other objects of interest at this place, I was 

 struck by the proceedings of two captive condors, 

 who, with clipped wings, roamed about the establish- 

 ment, and seemed to have no desire to recover the 

 liberty which they had lost as young birds. One of 

 them was especially pertinacious in keeping to the 

 side of the court near to the dining-room and kitchen, 

 always on the look-out for scraps of meat and refuse. 

 Contrary to my expectation, the colour of both birds, 

 which were females, was a nearly uniform brown, with 

 only a few white feathers beneath. They were larger 

 than any eagles, but scarcely exceeded one or two of 

 the largest Idmmergeier of the Alps that I have seen 

 in confinement. 



On the morning of May 19 I with much regret 

 took my departure from the baths, and found myself 

 in company with an elderly gentleman and his pretty 

 and agreeable daughter, who also desired to return to 

 Santiago. Starting some two hours earlier than was 

 at all necessary, we had spare time, which I employed 

 in looking for plants at Rio Claro and about the 



chemical nature of the poisonous principle contained in the plants of 

 this group. 



