BIRDS. 
159 
carried off children in the same manner ; but these tales 
are manifestly absurd, as the Condor's feet and talons are 
not fitted for carrying any great weight. Both the talons and 
the bill are indeed of extraordinary strength, but they are 
intended for tearing objects to pieces ; and consequently 
we find that the Condor feeds chiefly on dead or dying 
cattle, or horses, which he tears to pieces, and devours 
where they lie. When the Condor is gorged, the hunters 
attack him, but his strength and fierceness are so great, that 
one of Sir Francis Head's companions, who attempted to 
seize a gorged Condor, said he never had " such a battle 
in his life ;" though he had been a Cornish miner, and 
was reckoned an excellent wrestler in his own country. 
THE VULTURE. (Vultur Papa.) 
THE first rank in the description of birds has been given 
to the eagle, though in fact they belong to the falcon 
