The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-08-11
THE CONDOR or THE ANDES.
scars Far Above the Eagle and Reaches Q
HEIGHT Of ak Miles.

Despite its immense size and weight
the condor possesses the power of rising
In its flight to a greater distance above
the earth than any other bird. and Oar
win speaks rapturously of its grace OF
motion on the wing when the con.
dors are wheeling in Il flock, round and
round any spot, their fight is beauti.
full. Except when rising from the
ground, l do not recollect ever to have
seen one of these birds flap it's wings.
Near Lima watched several for nearly
half an hour without once taking off
my eyes. They moved in large curves.
sweeping in circles, descending and rs.
ccnding, without giving a single flap.
1t is truly wonderful and beautiful to
see so great bird, hour after hour,
without any apparent eXertion wheel
ing and gliding over mountain and
river
| humboldt claims that it scars to an
altitude of at least 10000 feet above the
sea. From the cave of Autisana. which
is at an elevation of 12,95s feet above
the Pacific ocean, he observed a condor
rise perpendicularly to u still greater
height of 6,sTG feet. Other authorities
miles above the sea level, which is
about six times the height of the ordi-
nary clouds. The bird, from flying at
this extreme elevation, where the air
must be SO highly raretied, will drop
suddenly to the valleys, thus in the
briefest time passing through an almost
incredible change of temperature. AT
such a height the air cells of the con.
dor, when they have been filed 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 temperature and in.
creased weight of the atmosphere, and
returns to regions far above the clouds
where the air is so rarcfied that man
can hardly breathe. High up as the
eye can reach he may be seen describ
, ing his graceful circles against the
blue. From this or even a more lofty
point of vantage he brings his tele
scopic eyes to bear upon the earth
eagerly scanning the movements of tho
herds for the fall of some weakening
member of the flock. No sooner does
poor creature drop than down rush th'
condors to the feast. In spite of tn,
!, keenness of u hunger sharpcned by on'
knows not how many days of watching
upon the wing at that frightful alti
I tude. our condor begins his repas
daintily, tasting first the tongue ant
!. eyes, his chosen tidbits. But, soon free
, by the sight of the beautiful banquc
: which death has spread for him, h
tears the tough hide, and, wildly pull
, ing with his beak, pushes with hi
feet, and tapping his wide wings
: gorges himself, gulping down grea
> bits of hesh and riots without stin
|, until he can hold no more. Fairl
: drunken with his revolving feast he n
!. longer has power to raise himself upo
, the wing. Knowing this, the India
will often place dead animal as a lul
g upon the plains When the birds hav
a become gorged and unable to fly th
a Indians appear and moose them wit
n the lasso, the sport which they fin
scarce less exciting than the Spanial
4 does his ull-fght.-Popular Scienc
:, News.