22 
THE CONDOR. 
It inhabits the whole chain of the Andes of Mexico, Pern, 
Chili, and Patagonia to the Straits of Magellan, and, on the 
authority of Lewis and Clarke, they are sometimes seen in 
the range of the Rocky Mountains, towards the sources of 
the Missouri. Their peculiar residence is the great chain 
of the high Andes, where they associate three or four together 
upon the points of cliffs without either fearing or injuring 
men, so that they may be approached within four yards with- 
out showing alarm, or making on their part any attempt at 
attack. Hardly an instance is really known of their even 
assaulting an infant, though some credulous naturalists, 
with the exaggerating privilege of travellers, have given 
accounts of their killing young persons of ten or twelve years 
of age. Their ability for such rapine is not to be doubted, 
but their natural cowardice forbids the attempt. At the 
same time, it is not uncommon to see them follow and hover 
around a young bull until they have torn out his eyes and 
tongue. 
A pair of Condors will not only in this way attack the 
deer of the Andes, the puma or American lion (our 
panther), the vicogne, and the llama (or American camel), 
but also the wild heifer. They will pursue it for a long 
time, occasionally wounding it with their bill and claws, until 
the unfortunate animal, now stifled and overcome with 
fatigue, extends its tongue and groans ; on which occasion 
the Condor seizes this member, being a very tender and 
favorite morsel, and tears out the eyes of his prey, which at 
