Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-10
The Condor.

The condor is a native OF the noun
tain chain of the Andes, aud is one
of the largest Of the birds of prey. The
average expause of the condor's wings
is from eight to nine feet. and the
length Of the body from tine point of
the beak to the extremity of the tail,
three feet and five or SIX inches.
The color Of the condor is II grayish
black; the wings are marked with
white, and there is u collar OF downy
white feathers about the neck. The
crest of the male is quite large. Tho
internal structure of the condor pre-
sents some curious features; the
"gizzard is provided with Longitude
nal rows of horny spikes, which are
supposed to assist the bird III the rapid
digestion of its food.
These birds often attack COWS, bulls
and deer, and as their assaults are
chiefly directed upon the eyes, they
blind their victims, and they soon fall
by the blows which are il ilicted upon
hem by the beaks of the birds.
The condor is very strong, and even
when wounded powerful man is no
match for one of these creatures.
The Indians have great dislike to-
these birds, and if they capture one of
them alive they torture it very cruelty.
Their mode of capture is as follows
They kill an animal and expose the
body in the open air. The condors
soon assemble in large numbers and
feast upon the flesh. AS soon as they
are gorged to the full the Indians dash
in among them and capture them with
their lassos. When they feel the moose
around their necks they endeavor to
reject the meal which they have swal-
lowed, but are made captives before
they are able to rid themselves of the
food.
The flight OF these birds is grand and
beautiful; they seem to fly by moving
the head and neck rather than the
wings.
Although there have been condors in
the geological Gardens at Dresden
since 1874, it is only recently that any
thing has been found out in regard to
the length of the broodipg season, their
habits ut the time, their manner Of
feeding their young. etc.
Very little has been known of the
habits of these birds until lately, as
they live at height of from 10000 to
$4,000 feet, and only come down to the
lower points in search of prey. The
Indians assert that the eggs are laid on
the bare rock. the bird making no rest
whatever.
The condors in Dresden commenced
laying in April. 1877. and, after that,
laid from two to three eggs yearly in
April or May, but unfortunately they
crush their eggs Immediately, or after
playing with them several days. Last
year most of dried branches, feathers
and wool was made in the top of the
cage, about two meters from the ground,
and it was thought that the birds would
avail themselves of it. Loose material
for nest-building was put in the cage,
but the female laid her eggs in the sand
as before, which were soon destroyed.
Shortly after tho birds were removed
into the larger simmer quarters of the
birds of prey. and the female laid an
egg on the 9th of May. in dark corner
of the cage. Tho next day tho male
commenced to brood. All the materials
for nest that the keeper laid under
and about the egg were rejected and
scratched away. and tho brooding went
on upon the gravel bottom of the cage.
The male devoted himself to the brood
ing the greater part OF the time. the
indolent female setting upon the eggs
about third of the time.
On the seventh of July, after nearly
eight weeks, the keeper announced that
he had discovered life in the egg, and
on the same day rent WIS perceived
in the shell. The next day the bird had
almost escaped from the shell, only the
head and neck remaining in, and on
the following day the bird was entirely
freed. Since then the old birds have
been very busily employed in giving
the little one the necessary warmth,
and have manifested equal anxiety in
feeding it with horse flesh and small
pieces OF cat and dog flesh. The little
fellow, with its grayish feathers, looks
something like young owl. Its head
and neck are quite black. If any one
approaches, it commences already to
utter angry cries, anu the old birds are
SO ugly that the keeper can only enter
the cage armed. The brooding contin-
ued for eight weeks less one day:
Cassell says, in his " Natural History
that condor's egg was Matched in six
weeks and two days by hen. This
may be on account of tho nest which
the hen had.
The young bird, on the first day,
measured ten centim sters in length,
and on the twentieth day tweniy-eight
centimeters. The condors are fond of
bathing. and often sit upon their eggs
with their wet feathers.
Digestion of Food.
Rice. boiled; pigs feet, boiled; tripe,
boiled, will digest in one hours time.