THE CONDOR. 363 



to receive several bullets in its body, and to have lived a 

 considerable time afterwards. The shepherds train their dogs 

 to give notice of the approach of a condor ; and the moment 

 one appears in the sky, they look upwards, and bark violently 

 till their masters appear. Among other modes which the 

 natives employ to capture it, they kill an old mare — which 

 they have an idea is better than a horse— and allow the bird 

 to gorge itself. It then becomes so sluggish, that they can 

 without difficulty throw their bolas round its neck and legs. 

 It also sleeps so soundly, that they frequently manage to ap- 

 proach it when at roost, and capture it in the same way. 



In the province of Abacay, in Peru, another method is em- 

 ployed. A native fastens a quantity of putrid flesh to a fresh 

 cow-skin, under which he lies hid with a supply of rope. 

 When the condor pounces down upon the meat, and remains 

 gorging himself, the native fastens its legs by means of the 

 rope to the skin. As soon as this is done, he creeps from 

 beneath it. The frightened bird in vain attempts to escape. 

 Immediately the hunter's companions, rushing forward, throw 

 their bolas over the bird, and make it captive. Frequently 

 several are thus caught at the same time. 



The cruel and disgusting custom of bull-baiting is still kept 

 up in the country, and the condors are employed to add to the 

 terror and sufferings of the unhappy bull. Before the unfor- 

 tunate animal is driven into the circus, his back is laid bare 

 with a lance, and one of the birds, which has been starved 

 for a week or more, is bound upon it. The famished condor 

 immediately attacks the raw, quivering flesh of the poor 

 beast ; and while it is thus engaged, the bull is driven into 

 the midst of the arena, to afford amusement to the savage 

 spectators. 



