104 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
and soaring aloft over the wild landscape, in a mood 
of contemplation, begin to ascend towards the thin skirt- 
ing of elevated clouds above him. At length he passed 
this sublime boundary, and was now perceived and soon 
followed by his ambitious mate, and in a little time, by 
circular ascending gyrations, they both disappeared in 
the clear azure of the heavens ; and though I waited for 
their re-appearance half an hour, they still continued to 
be wholly invisible. This amusement, or predilection 
for the cooler regions of the atmosphere, seems more or 
less common to all the rapacious birds. In numerous 
instances this exercise must be wholly independent of the 
inclination for surveying their prey, as few of them be- 
side the F alcon descend direct upon their quarry. Many, 
as well as the present species, when on the prowl, fly near 
to the surface of the ground, and often wait and watch 
so as to steal upon their victims before they can take the 
alarm. Indeed the Condor frequents and nests upon the 
summits of the Andes, above which they are seen to soar 
in the boundless ocean of space, enjoying the invigorat- 
ing and rarefied atmosphere, and only descending to the 
plains when impelled by the cravings of hunger. 
The Red-tailed Hawk is 20 to 22 inches in length, and 3 feet 9 or 
more inches in the stretch of the expanded wings. The bill greyish 
black ; cere, sides of the mouth, and legs yellow. Upper parts dark 
brown, touched with ferruginous. Wings dusky, barred with black- 
ish, scapulars barred beneath the surface. Sides of the mp coverts 
white, barred with rusty, the middle ones dark. TaiT founded, ex- 
tending 2 inches beyond the wings, of a bright brown or brick 
color, with a single band of black near the end, and tipped with 
brownish white ; on some of the lateral feathers indications of bars. 
Beneath brownish white, the breast somewhat rust-colored, streak- 
ed with dark brown ; across the belly a band of interrupted spots of 
brown. Chin white ; vent and femorals pale ochreous, the latter 
with a few small heart-shaped spots of brown. Iris yellow. 
