Ralph De Sola, Federal Writers’ Project. 
ANDEAN CONDOR (Sarcorhamphus gryphus). Length: 4 feet. Wing Spread: 
10 feet. Range: Andes Mountains of South America. 
Many legends tell of condors killing sheep or children, and carrying 
them off into the mountains. These stories are untrue. 
Andean condors are sometimes caught by the Indians who slaughter a 
discarded horse for them to feed on. Large numbers of the giant birds assemble 
for the feast. When they have eaten themselves groggy, the Indians lasso them. 
Hew York Zoological Society. 
{Left) 
CALIFORNIAN CONDOR 
(Gymnogyps californi- 
anus). Length: 4 feet. 
Wing Spread: 10 feet. 
Range: Southern and 
Lower California. 
Condors feed on car¬ 
rion, and their mountain 
dwelling is a fetid den of 
decayed and rotting flesh 
and bones. 
(Right) 
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes 
aura). Also called Turkey Buz¬ 
zard. Length: 2 feet. Weight: 5 
pounds. Range: Eastern North 
America. 
Vultures are valuable as 
scavengers of dead and decay¬ 
ing animals. “When they find a 
dead animal they will not leave 
it until all but the bones and 
other hard parts have been con¬ 
sumed.” Relatives of this species 
are found throughout temperate 
and tropical America. 
New York Zoological Society. 
