CONDUR. 
373 
great rock five hundred paces distant from the sea- 
shore. I therefore charged my piece with a bullet, 
and hit the bird under the throat. I then saw that 
I had succeeded, and I ran to secure the victim ; 
but it struggled obstinately with death, and resting 
upon its back, it repelled my attempts with its ex- 
tended talons. I was at a loss on what side to lay 
hold of it ; and I believe if it had not been mortally 
wounded I should have found great difficulty in 
securing it. At last I dragged it down from the top 
of the rock, and with the assistance of a sailor I 
carried it to my tent to figure it and make a coloured 
drawing.” 
From the size of the specimen in the Leverian 
Museum, and its very muscular appearance, we can 
readily believe the account of Don Antonio de Ulloa y 
who observed a flock of sheep in great confusion on 
a hill adjoining to the place where he was stationed. 
This was occasioned by a condur which he saw flying 
upwards with a lamb between its talons, which it 
dropped before it had ascended to a great height, but 
immediately followed its prey, and again took it up ; 
it, however, let it fall a second time without daring 
to descend again, on account of the Indians, who, 
alarmed at the cries of the boys and barking of the 
dogs, were running towards the place. 
Condamine says, he has seen it hovering over a 
flock of sheep, and was only prevented from attack- 
ing them by the presence of the shepherds. The 
condurs reside among the mountains, where they 
procure their subsistence, except in the rainy season. 
