322 
EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS. 
for the occurrence of the phenomenon, or that the fish should be found so far out 
of their element. The circumstance which struck me as most singular in con¬ 
nexion with this event w r as, that the fish did not fall helter-skelter, everywhere, 
44 here and there ;” but they fell in a strait line, not more than a cubit in breadth. 
The natives living in and about the place gave to the fish the name of 44 Uka;* 
but whether this be the right appellation, I cannot tell from my own knowledge.— 
Calcutta Courier , Oct. 24, 1838.—£A notice of a shower of Toads will be found 
in our Vol. II., p. 156 .—Ed. NatT\ 
2. Notes on the Condor. —Mr. Temple, in his Travels in Peru , says that he 
once had an opportunity of shooting a Condor. 44 It was so satiated with its 
repast on the carcase of a Horse, as to suffer me to approach within pistol-shot 
before it extended its enormous wings to take flight, which was to me the signal 
to fire; and having loaded with an ample charge of pellets, my aim proved 
effectual and fatal. What a formidable monster did I behold, screaming and 
flapping, in the last convulsive struggles of life ! It may be difficult to believe 
that the most gigantic animal which inhabits the earth or the ocean can be 
equalled by a tenant of the air; and those persons who have never seen a larger 
bird than our mountain Eagle will probably read with astonishment of a species 
of that same bird, in the Southern hemisphere, being so large and strong as to 
seize an ox with its talons, and to lift it into the air, whence it lets it fall to the 
ground, in order to kill it, and prey on the carcase. But this astonishment must 
in a great measure subside when the dimensions of the bird are taken into con¬ 
sideration, and which, incredible as they may appear, I now insert from a note 
taken by my own hand :—When the wings are spread, they measure 16 paces 
(40 feet) from point to point; the feathers are 8 paces (20 feet) in length, and 
the quill part 2 palms (8 feet) in circumference. It is said to have strength 
enough to carry off a living Rhinoceros.”—^Travellers are in the habit of indulging 
very pleasant day-dreams for the express edification of their poor untraveiled 
brethren at home, for which we ought to be duly obliged; but we must be 
allowed to observe, that had Mr. Temple told us of a Condor so enormous that it 
easily seized in its talons a first-rate man-of-war, to the under side of which were 
attached two gigantic Whales, and had he added, that the bird, with half-extended 
wings, could not be turned on its side for examination without seriously endanger¬ 
ing the safety of the moon, we should as soon have believed him as we now do 
on perusal of the above extract. There is no authentic account of the outspread 
wings of the Condor measuring more than twelve feet from point to point, and 
the usual size is much inferior to this. If the bird could bear off a Sheep in its 
talons, we should be well satisfied with its strength.— -Ed.] 
