138 
THE VULTURE. 
and all, of an Albatross, the large sea-bird which we 
have already described. 
The natives of South America avail themselves of 
the gluttonous greediness of this bird to catch it. A 
dead carcass of a cow or horse is laid out for a bait, 
on which they gorge themselves to such a degree 
that they become quite drowsy and stupid. When 
in this plight, they are approached by the Indians, 
who easily throw a noose over them; on finding 
themselves prisoners they are usually, for a time, 
sullen and shy; but this is not always the case, as 
the following story will prove, related by Captain 
Head, and told to him by one of his attendants, a 
strong English miner from Cornwall, when exploring 
the mining districts of South America. 
The man, when riding along the plains, saw several 
Condors, or largest sized Vultures (described in 
Table iii., p. ] 1, under the genus “ Fleshy Beaked,”) 
of which the annexed figure 1 represents the head ; 
and guessing that they were attracted by some dead 
animal, rode up, and found a numerous flock round 
the carcass of a horse. One of the largest was 
standing with one foot on the ground, and the other 
in the horse's body, exhibiting a singular force of 
muscular power, as he lifted the flesh, and tore off 
great pieces, sometimes shaking his head, and pull- 
ing with his beak, or sometimes pushing with 
his leg. 
As the man approached, one of them, which ap- 
peared to be gorged, rose up, and flew about fifty 
yards off, when it alighted, and he rode up to it, and 
then jumping down, seized the bird by the neck. 
The contest was severe, and never probably was such 
