The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-10-06
Characteristics Of the Condor.

PROFESSOR James Orton's paper at the
Troy meeting of the. Association for the
Advancement of Science, contained the
following interesting account of this won
derful bird: "Fifty years have elapsed
since the first specimen reached Europe,
yet to-day the exaggerated stories Of its
strength and size are repeated in most CT
our text books, and the very latest orni-
biological work leaves US in no doubt as to
its relation to the other vultures. Mo-
credits the assertion Of the old geograph-
er, Marco Polo, that TIE condor can lift
an elephant from the ground high enough
to kill it by the fall nor the story CT the
Traveller, so lete IS 1880, who declared tha.
condor Of moderate size, Just killed, was
lying hJ fore him, q single quill father of
which was twenty PAGES lOng. Yet the
statement continues 10 be published that
the ordinary expaDse Of full grown COR
dor is IRON fifteen 10 twenty feet, whereas
it is very doubtful if it ever exceeds or
even equals twelve feet. / have q full
grown male from the most celebrated To-
cali.y in the Andes, and the stretch of its
wings is nine feet. Humboldt never found
one to measure over nine feet; and the
largest s1ecimen which Darwin ever ssw
Was 81 feet from tip to tip. An old male
in the Geological Gardens of London
measures II feet. 1t is not yet settled that
this greatest of unciean birds is generally
distinct from other vultJres Its usual
hsbitation is between the attitudes of TO-
600 10 10000 feet The largest seem to
make their home around the volc mo Of
Csyambi, which stands exactly on the
equator. They are most commonly seen
around vertical cliffs, perhaps because
their nests are there; and because cstile
are likely 20 fall there FlocEs are never
seen except around large carcass. 1t is
often seen singly soaring ST crest height
in vast circles. Its fight is slow. 1t
never fisps lis wings IN the air,
as if IN search Of food below. Its mouth
is kept open and Its tail spread. To
rise from the ground II must need run for
some distance then it flaps its wings
three times and scars awav. A narrow
pen is therefore sufficient 10 imp-ison it.
Ii walking the wings trail on the ground
and the head takes crOuching position.
Though a CARTON bird il bTeathes The plr-
est air, spending much OF S time soaring
three miles over the sea. Humboldt saw
one fly over ChimborsZ0 I have seen
them sailing 81 lesst go feet above the
crater of Picbincha. Is eormandiZisg
power has hardly been diversified. I have
known single condor, not o. the largest
size, to make away ii one week with g
caf, a sheep, and dog. II prefers car
rion, but will sometimes attack live sheep,
deer, dogs, &c. The eyes and tongue OF a
carcass are the faVorite parts, and first de-
voured; next TIE intestines- | never
heard an authenticated case Of its carry
i ,ers 1 ,gs children norQf It's attacking adults,
ty it viii est everything eScepi !, fsntivt.
fried or boiled meat When full fed, It is
exceedingly stupid, and csn be caught by
the hand but at other times 1t is a maicl
Tor the stoutest man. u passes the great
or part Of the day sleeping, searching Tor
prey ia the morning ana evening. Ii is
seldom shot (though it is not invulnerable,
as once thoughD, but is generally caught
in traps. The only noise 1t makes is hiss
ike that of a go0se-the usual trsct@A
muscles being wanting. 1t avs two
white eggs on al inaccessible ledge.
1t makes no nest proper, but places
> few sticks sround the eggs. BY
no amount Of bribery could / temp an
Indian to search for the cOndor's eggs,
and Mr.. Smith, who hunted nesrly twelve
years IN the Quito Valley, was never able
10 get sight OF one. Incubation occupies
about seven weeks, ending IN Aprll or
Nay, Tin Patagonia much earlier, or about
FepTuaTy.)