Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-10-25

T. Despite its immense. sizs and
weight, the condor possesses the
power Of rising in its flight TO a
greater distance above the earth
than any other bird, says the Popa.
Tar Science 4News, aud Darwin
speaks .spturously Of iisgrace of
molten on che wing. when the
condors are wheeling in a flock,
round and round any spot, their
fight Is beautiful. Exceps when
rising from the ground, / do not
recollect ever TO hare sean one Of
these birds iIsr isa wings. Near
Ihsna i-watchsss 'severaf ftf nearly
haff an hour without once taking
of my eyes. They moved in large
curves. sweeping in circles. descend
ing and ascending, without giving
single flap. II is truly wonderful
and beautiful to see so great bird,
hour after hour, without any ap.
parent exertion. wheeling and glid.
ing over mountain and river"
Humboldt claims that it scars to
an altitude of at least so, 900 feet
above the sea. From the cave of
Autisana, which is at an elevation
of 12,95S feet above the Pacific
Ocean, be observed a condor rise
perpendicularly to still greater
height of 1915 feet. Other authori-
ties state that it reaches a height Of
SIX miles above the sea level, which
is about six times the height OF the
ordinary clouds. The bird, from
flying at this extreme elevation,
where the air must be so highly
rarified, will drop suddenly 10 the
valleys, thus in the briefest time
passing through an almost incredi-
BILE change of temperature. Atsuch
a height the air cells Of the condor,
when they have been filled in the
lower regions, must be inflated in
the most extraordinary manner.
But the great bird loves the heights.
They are his chosen home.
Hunger alone drives him to the
plains. AS soon as his appetite is
satiated he leaves them, appearing
to be oppressed by the higher TEN.
perature and increased weight OF
the atmosphere, and returns to re-
glons far above the clouds, where
the air is so rarified that man can
hardly breathe. High up as the
eye can reach he may be seen dc.
scribing his graceful circles against
the blue. From this or even a
more lofty point OF vantage he
brings his telescope eye to bear up
on the earth, eagerly scanning tho
movements of the herds for the fall
Of some weakening member OF the
flock. No sooner does a poor crea
ture drop than down rush the con.
doris to the feast.
In spite of the keenness of a
hunger sharpened by one knows
not how manv days of watching
upon the wing at that frigid alti-
tude, our condor begins his repast
dsintily, tasting first the tongue
and eyes, his chosen tid-bits. But
soon, fired by the sight OF the beau.
tiful banquet which death has
spread for him, he tears the tough
hide, and wildly pulling with his
beak, pushing with his feet, and
flaping his wide wings, gorges him
self, guiping down great bites Of
flesh, and riots without stint until
he can hold no more. Fairly drunk
en- with bis revolting feast, he no
longer has power to raise himself
upon the wing. knowing this, the
Indians will often place q dead ami
NAL as lure upon the plains.
When the birds have become gorged
and unable to ay the Indians ap-
pear and moose them with the lasso,
the sport which they find scarce
less exciting than the spaniard does
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