THREE GREAT BIRDS 191 



adult condor. In describing this spot, Mr. 

 Finley says: 



"A ridge, just wide enough, for a path, 

 dropped steep into the gorge on both sides. 

 For two miles we wound round a shaky trail, 

 tracing the top rim of the basin. A great 

 slab of gray stone barred the doorway of the 

 condor's home, and protected it from storms. 

 Up a narrow steep pocket we scrambled, cling- 

 ing to the scrubby bushes and the snaky roots, 

 washed bare by rain, until we could peer 

 through a crack in the rocks. An uncanny 

 feeling ran through me as I made out indis- 

 tinctly the big, black body of the condor, with 

 its orange colored head and beady eyes watch- 

 ing me intently. ' ' 



For twelve days Mr. Finley and his com- 

 panion carefully watched the nest, and then 

 to their joy found that the young condor had 

 been hatched ! As Mr. Finley not only wanted 

 the specimen for a zoological collection and so 

 win one of the large rewards offered but also 

 wanted to study the habits of the bird in its 

 native home, everything was left undisturbed, 



