Aug. 1828. 



CONDORS — THEIR FOOD. 



185 



A very large condor was shot by one of the Adelaide''s 

 party, which measured, in length, four feet three inches and a 

 half, and nine feet two inches between the extremities of the 

 wings. It was presented to the British Museum. Many exag- 

 gerated accounts of this bird have been given by old voyagers; 

 but the largest dimensions stated, of whose accuracy there 

 exists no doubt, are those of one that was preserved in the 

 Leverian Museum, which measured thirteen feet one inch, 

 from wing to wing. This, however, must have been an old 

 bird ; for the one we killed is larger than the usual size of 

 specimens which have been obtained. Molina states, in his 

 account of this bird, vol. i. p. 298, that the largest he ever saw 

 measured fourteen feet and some inches (Spanish measure), from 

 the tip of one wing to that of the other. M. Humboldt also 

 gives a detailed description. 



" It is with the condor," says this celebrated voyager, " as 

 with the Patagonian, and many other objects of natural history; 

 the more they are examined, the more they diminish in size." 

 They inhabit the highest mountains of the Andes, and only 

 descend to the plains when pressed by hunger. Frequently, in 

 troops, they attack cattle, deer, guanacoes, and even the puma, 

 and always succeed in killing them ; but their principal food 

 is carrion, of which, in a country so abundantly stocked with 

 quadrupeds, there is probably no want. 



Our departure from the Strait was attended with beautiful 

 weather ; the moon was full, and the wind fair and moderate. 



this position awaits the approach of its enemy, at whom it ejects its urine, 

 which produces so unbearable a smell, that neither man, dog, nor tiger, 

 will attempt to touch the animal. 



The yagouare moves very slowly, and cannot run. It produces two 

 young ones, Avhich are placed at the bottom of its burrow. The uncon- 

 quered Indians of the Pampas make mantles with the furs of the fox, 

 cavia, or other animals, and border them with the skins of the yagouare, 

 which are very soft and fine, and would be fit for being employed by the 

 furrier were it not for the disagreeable odour which they impart to 

 every thing they touch. The Indians eat the fiesh of this animal, which 

 they irritate until its only means of defence is unavailing, and it can he 

 captured without ofl'ensive conycquences. 



