The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-05-01
The Condor.

THIS greatest of unclean birds has been
singularly unfortunate in the hands of the
curious and scientific. Fifty years have
elapsed since the first specimen reached
Europe; yet to-day the exaggerated sto-
ries of its size and strength are repeated
in many of our textbooks, and the very
latest ornithological work leaves us in
doubt as to its relation to the other vul-
lures. No one credits the assertion of the
old geographer, Marco Polo, that the con-
dor can lift an elephant from the ground
high enough to kill it by the fall, nor the
story of a traveller, so late as 1880, who
declared that a condor of moderate size,
just killed, was lying before him, a single
quill-feather of which was twenty good
PAGES longl Yet the statement continues
to be published that the ordinary expanse
of full-grown specimen is from twelve
to twenty feet, whereas it is very doubt
| ful If it ever exceeds or even equals twelve
| feet. A full-grown male from the most
celebrated locality on the Andes, now in
Vassar College, has stretch of nine feet.
Humboldt never found one to measure
over nine feet; and the largest specimen
seen by Darwin was eight and q half feet
from tip to tip. An old male in the Zoo
logical Gardens of London measures
eleven feet. Won Tschudi says he found
one with spread of fourteen feet two
inches, but he invalidates his testimony
by the subsequent statement that the full
grown condor measures from twelve to
| thirteen feet.
The ordinary habitat of the royal con-
dor is between the attitudes of ten thou
sand and sixteen thousand feet. The larg-
est seem to make their home around the
volcano of Cayambi, which stands exactly
on the equator. In the rainy season they
frequently descend to the coast, where
they may be seen roosting on trees. On
the mountains they very rarely perch
tor which their feet are poorly titted),
but stand on rocks. They are most COM
monty seen around vertical cliffs, where
their nests are, and where cattle are
frequent Antisana, where there is great
cattle estate. Flocks are never seen ex-
cept around large carcass. 1t is often
seen singly soaring at great height in
vast circles. Its flight is slow and maies-
tic. Its head is always in motion, as if in
search of food below. Its mouth is kept
open and its tail spread. To rise from
the ground, it must needs run for some
distance; then it flaps its wings three or
I four times, and ascends at a low angle till
it reaches a considerable elevation, when
it seems to make few leisurely strokes,
as if to ease its wings, after which it liter.
ally sails upon the air.
In walking, the wings trail upon the
ground, and the head takes a crouching
position. Ithas very awkward, almost
: painful gait. From its inability to rise
without running, narrow pen is suffic-
lent to imprison it. Though carrion.
bird. it breathes the purest air, spending
much of its time soaring three miles above
the sea. Humboldt saw one flying ovel
Chimb oraZo. We have seen them sailing
at least a thousand feet above the crater
of Pichincha.
Its gormandizing power has hardly beer
Over-stated. We have known single
condor, not of the largest size, to make
way in one week with a calf, sheep and
a dog. Itprefers carrion, but will some
times attack live sheep, deer. dogs, etc
The eyes and tongue are the favorite
parts, and first devoured; next the intes
tines. We never heard of one authenti
!, Gated case of its carrying off children, mol
of its attacking adults, except in defense
of its eggs. Won Tschudi says it cannot
carry when flying a weight over ter
pounds. In captivity it will eat every
When full fed it is exceedingly stupid
and can be caught by the hand; but al
other times it is match for the stoutest
) man. 1t passes the greater part of the
day sleeping, more often searching fol-
prey in the morning and evening that at
noon-very likely because objects are
more distinctly seen. 1t is seldom shot
Though it is not invulnerable as once
thought, but is generally trapped ol
lassoed.-