The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-03-05
Notes cf IT0rel.

I q
DEAR FRTEHAS-In continuation Of tbs sab
iect treated in my last letter, I. e. my i'm pres
sIons OF South tircTIc;- II hchI3ves iHo u say
thft can for the present merely giaacc at t.it
ornithoiogy of that vast countrc. To count
c-vatisd species "oaii be iU5o-iouS TASK,
but to describe them Tar 81, passes my EC'-
abilities One is conpiC tcly bewii!ered Evicn
he attempts 10 arrangc toe various species of
even one genera. en'i finds. aftcr having tried
for some time, That it salnost il not quite iui-
pcssib!c.
Planters living at the fo.,t of the Andes q -
fr;1 lentIy annoyed by condcrS. Very often
their finest lamJs become the prey Of thcsc ra
n1cious creatures. AMI many and ingenious are
the SIR tegt ms by which the Planter seeks 20
Iii himself of these pestiferOus IuarRuIers-
The condor ia known u lie very yOr9UiuuS- %
much 50 indeed that he vorgcs himself 20 such
extent as 10 be unat.iC 10 usc His wings Gnfl
he has frs; run IL consdclai.le GistaucT.- This
circumstance. iS tufned to lrop9 .t.s.otr. l,v
planter ip ex poses the dead body ~ u hers 4,
y or COW will hin n enclosure " ti,.il : re.ici
ctrcasc and descend in sucss from t'icir Inf, ;
,cyries t. glt:t their is.t!alIr a,,pctitps /: Is
ne All easy hiuttcr So. the piauter either to
k'li them yiit c!Ghs or caCch ttCra alive with
the lasso, for being unable 70 IA Ee their i.ccLie
TONED run, t,;ey are rs helpless ss iHe ;i.iIii
deer in the hunters trap
Some instances rae on record gF chil iren hsv-
ing been carried Of by cnDdoTS, Dot they arc
not well authenticated, the possibility Of such
Il thiux bt ing probably the only hass upon
4 Planter no had caught condor ami pulled
the feathers out pf lis wings 10 prevCit L (. O 4
flying. In ii snort time the ola frathcis uiu;Il-
ted ahd new ones cane ana grew, until "tlc 'ay
the condor Thought himself strong enough II
youngest child from the Grade. tac Co1d,r
spurned the ground and o.rcf Elnft with its
victim. and This in tnc very presence of the dis
tractcd parents.
Little is known of the habits of these birds
When young they DO nor bu.ia ta-sis- bat iay
their eggs on the hare rocks. F'io female TRACES
tlI, gTta of the little ones nd re.Iai rs
with them an entire year to teach them how to
vide for tn h-inSclvcs, after itci She leaves
them to their own resources.
Thc toucan is one or the most singular birds
ot the gathered creation. In size ana shape il
somewhat resembles the common IL .lgt!i,v.
Tic plumage il remarkably beautiful aud tie
feathers are In great demand for dC dCc1ratIug
ladies hcaf-GrcsscS- Bat ihe most ex.raOriI-
mary thirc about Il ]. the beaiS, which is nearly
as large - the rest or the body Tt sCUu5S 20 hc
a great incnnven!cnc" to the L.r.l. aud isa-,-s
docs not hesitate 10 affirm that j; sn Instance
of imperfect adaptation; hut this, ike Y
other things in THAI gcu:i :ieman's hook, must Us
''hcn cam gram sails In spite OF is Cnur.1ous
heaE- we had the tOucau fiyirg from tree tO
tree ~ nimOly IS any other iir3. uul percuin- :
on The apex @! the :: r. higheS: one, saarchil. :.
- 'N-'si~-h7 60 80 a "a
lit is hollow, the exterior presenting cavities,
formed by cXtrCIu' " thiFi plates " l.iCi3 a-c
covered ~ hard caut moi tucker than l,.r,.i-
m@1J- tStucraliy they build tlci nest -ia the
hOilDws 81 slcCstyed trees. and no alDthrr taxes
more care. OF hcr ch;i.ircn thsn a fottrsn 10. 6
OF lis yOiue until they are competent t. pro-
vide or themselves. Monkeys are tlI, = srrstcst
iiririss tcy ha' c o guard li.s.. These MS
Vt'i : creatures destroy their nests. break Tho
ess.s. of;kiN the young. whenever they get ~
opportunity but frequently tn" monkey finds
TIC IN nothcr bird IN the nest, wiics z Ney : =,
such warm reception, tllat he icL;ns il tie
better part OF va n not to return III Lu'r.-.
with parrots Of splendid plImagP. The doe !
ity OF this bird ana the ease with which it
learns any lan2ua2e has rendered ii a favorite
IN every age and cline: so much so, indeed
tsat We read OF Alexander the Great. bringing
some DG thctR from the island of Gprlpn. AZ Ter
hsviiE conquered King Darius. Thy are here.
Just ike they arc " hen domcStIcltrd. forever
cfatteFtng md moving about. when yDU act
INTO wood where the green Vari, ty have their
ABODE, you would be at a loss 20 diStinE u Sh
them from the foliage. were il not FOR their
continual Innv' mants- The deep wood seems
TO ne thrlr choicest habitatinn, and they are
seldom found in foclSs, ut any great distance
from IT. Here they live IN the most perfect
hdftnonY with esch other. bat fiioy ::e very
Jealous Of strange birds aud viii not ALLOW
tac:n to remain near them fer ai.y lcrR "a or
tire. They feed on kafnyls Of Gut~, vegc:ll'. e
seeds etc, bar sometimes they cOngrcaraft il
large Il ,ckS and commit serious d@pretsa: in5s
On tie mr!z" nclds adjacent To thu woods.
While en,age their pa e 1T ,ry ccursio,'s, I
g.iard is constantly lett 10y the fock in some
elevated position. From wbercc. should danger
hr appr"hcniet. the alarm is given iiy ne
c1iiar cry, whict. is answered by the others
taxi 1g immediate fight. Crash away goes
my lamp Chimney ROVER.