April, 1834. 



CONDOR. 



223 



struggling and flapping its wings. Under the same circum- 

 stances, it would not have been possible to have deceived a 

 dog. 



I may remark, that oftentimes when lying down to rest 

 on the open plains, and on looking upwards, I have 

 seen carrion hawks, sailing through the air at a great 

 height. Where the country is level I do not believe a 

 space of the heavens, of more than 15° above the horizon, 

 is commonly viewed with any attention by a person 

 either walking or on horseback. If such is the case, and 

 the vulture is on the wing at a height of between three and 

 four thousand feet, before it could come within the above 

 range of vision, its distance in a straight line from the 

 beholder's eye, would be rather more than two British miles. 

 Might it not thus readily be overlooked ? When an animal 

 is killed by the sportsman in a lonely valley, may he not all 

 the while be watched from above by the sharp- sighted bird ? 

 And will not the manner of its descent proclaim throughout 

 the district to the whole family of carrion-feeders, that their 

 prey is at hand ? 



When the condors in a flock are wheeling round and 

 round any spot, their flight is beautiful. Except when rising 

 from the ground, I do not recollect ever having seen one 

 of these birds flap its wings. Near Lima, I watched several 

 for nearly half an hour, without once taking off" my eyes. 

 They moved in large curves, sweeping in circles, descend- 

 ing and ascending without once flapping. As they glided 

 close over my head, I intently watched, from an oblique 

 position, the outhnes of the separate and terminal feathers 

 of the wing, if there had been the least vibratory movement, 

 these would have been blended together, but they were seen 

 distinct against the blue sky. The head and neck were 

 moved frequently, and apparently with force, and it appeared 

 as if the extended wings formed the fulcrum on which the 

 movements of the neck, body, and tail, acted. If the bird 

 wished to descend, the wings were for a moment collapsed ; 

 and then when again expanded with an altered inclination. 



