186 



for wlien it is young it is almost white, and does not 

 begin to change until after it has quitted the nest. 

 The first black spot appears upon the back, and is 

 very small, but extends gradually over the whole 

 body. Notwithstanding the size of this bird, which 

 is nearly that of the turkey, and its strong and crook- 

 ed talons, it attacks no other, but feeds principally 

 upon carcasses and reptiles. It is extremely indo- 

 lent, and will frequently remain for a long time al- 

 most motionless, with its wings extended, sunning 

 itself upon the rocks or the roofs of the houses. 

 When in pain, which is the only time that it is 

 known to make any noise, it utters a sharp cry like 

 that of a rat, and usually disgorges what it has eaten. 

 The flesh of this bird emits a fetid smell that is high- 

 ly offensive. The manner in which it builds its 

 nest is perfectly correspondent to its natural indo- 

 lence ; it carelessly places between rocks, or even 

 upon the ground, a few dry leaves or feathers, upon 

 which it lays two eggs of a dirty white. 



The bird universally known in Peru by the name 

 of condor (vultur gryphus) is in Chili called manque^ 

 and is unquestionably the largest that has the power 

 of supporting itself in the air. Linnaeus makes its 

 wings, when extended, sixteen feet from one ex- 

 tremity to the other, but the largest that I have seen 

 was but fourteen feet and some inches. Its body is 

 much larger than tíiat of the royal eagle, and is en- 

 tirely covered with black feathers, excepting the 

 back, which is white. The neck is encircled with 

 iH white fringe, composed of projecting feathers about 

 an inch in length. The head is covered with short 



