187 



and thin hairs, the irides of the eyes are of a reddish 

 brown, and the pupils black. The beak is four inches 

 long, very large and crooked, black at its base, and 

 white towards the point. The greater quills of the 

 wings are usually two feet nine inches long, and one 

 third of an inch in diameter. The thigh is ten inches 

 and two thirds in length, but the leg does not ex- 

 ceed six inches ; the foot is furnished with four 

 strong toes, the hindmost of which is about two inches 

 long, with but one joint, and a black nail an inch in 

 length ; the middle toe has three joints, it is nearly 

 six inches long, and is terminated by a crooked 

 whitish nail of two inches ; the other toes are a little 

 shorter, and are armed with strong and crooked 

 talons. The tail is entire, but small in proportion 

 to the size of the bird. The female is less than the 

 male, and of a brownish colour ; she has no fringe 

 about the neck, but a small tuft upon the hinder part 

 of it. She builds her nest upon the most steep and in- 

 accessible cliiFsj and lays two white eggs larger than 

 those of the turkey. 



The condors feed either upon carcasses, or upon 

 animals which they kill themselves, and thus supply 

 the place of wolves, which are unknown in Chili. 

 They frequently attack flocks of sheep or goats, and 

 even calves when they are separated from the cows. 

 In the latter case there are always several of them 

 together, who fly upon the calf with their wings ex- 

 tended, dig out its eyes, and in a few moments tear 

 it in pieces. 



The husbandmen make use of every stratagem to 

 destroy so dangerous a bird. For this purpose they 

 sometimes envelope themselves in the skin of an ox 



