22 



THE ANDES^ 



and particularly where the hill often proves too 

 formidable for the loaded beasts^ which then 

 become legally^ as well as practically, the pro- 

 perty of these giant eagles. 



We had, from time to time, opportunities of 

 observing specimens of their skill, as well as of 

 their voracity, in the clean-picked bones which 

 were scattered about in various places. The 

 condor is larger than any other bird I ever saw, 

 except the emu and the ostrich. I doubt whe- 

 ther the strongest man would be able to resist 

 a combined attack of two of them. 



Our guide pointed out to us two rocks in a 

 glen, under which he and his brother had been 

 imprisoned, by the snow, for many days, on 

 their return from Chile. They had crossed the 

 summits in a snow-storm, and on reaching this 

 spot the track was quite invisible. Unable to 

 direct their steps any longer with safety, they 



