Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-28
CALIFORNIA CONDOR.
A RARE BIRD WHOSE EGGS ARE VAL
uED At $4,000 A DOZEN.
A Species That Is becoming Extinct, Like
tho Great Auk-Dangern and Hardships
THAT Collectors Endurc--other Biological
Information.


Information.
II is not generally known That among
the fnds Of the day tho collecting of birds
eggs Is ono that interests the cultured and
woalthy, and ono that may DO very oxpon-
sively indulgcd In, while IL affords mid
recreation to Thousands Of individuals Of
moderate mems. Tho scientific collection
OF blrds' ogrs has, In fact, become u fas-
cinatiug avocation, and. rightly studied, a
pursuit to which the systematic study of
birds, their biology and tho laws govern
Ing their evolution Ia largely indebted, rs
acknowledged by no less an authority than
Professor Huxley himself, who showed
that "a study Of the markings and shapd CT
the eggs OF tho species aided materially In
establishing tho close relationship OF the
linlicolm (ployers) and the gavin (gulls
and torns).
Aside from Its scientific value the coll
Letting OF BIRDS eggs entices tho crthusi-
asst by the mt rvelous diversity in size, shape
and markings OF the eggs, 1tly painted by
nature herself to ndorn the richest cabinet.
Tho raptorcs. or birds OF prey, are u fn-
vorlte family with biologists, largely from
the endurance daring and nerve requisite
IN scaling cliffs and lofty trees TO secure
their eggs, which arc often, rs in the oaso
Of tho golden eagle, beautifully marked.
This grand eagle seldom attncks tho plum
dcror Of its eggs, though II is unsafe to
anger the majestic bird when its nest con.
tnins young. Tho eggs Hro two md some
times three, largo and show great variation
in the markings Of purple, lavender and
rich brown, blotchcd or suifuscd over tho
surface OF tho sholl. In allfornla, where
these eagles are most numerous n lof'y
live ouk tree is frequently selected rs site
for tho hugo nest OF sticks, with Its lining
Of Spanish moss, used by tho birds year
after yoar for generations, A ledge on
clif IL also common nesting place, and
out In Wyoming an eagle has found per-
feotly safe place to raise Its young on the
ilai top Of n giant rock The nest IL in
| plnin View, but is inaccessible
Tho California condor--a bird with
sweep OF wing 10 feet from tip TO tip, and
the largest bird OF flight In the world, not
excepting the great Andes oondor-is
! species Of much interest to biologists from
| the cxtrcmo rarity and value Of Its eggs.
! This condor Is becoming extinct, llko tho
great nuE. aud ms II II had n forecast OF Its
impending doom, 1t resorts to tho most
/ prccipitous mountain, where, ON some
eraggy and perhaps inaccessible stocp, it
deposits Its single egg OF pale, ErocDish
blue In cave. But seven eggs arc known
In collections, md tho ynlun Of one (cunsld
erlng the probability OF tho great birds
early cxtinction) IL very great More than
81 500 has been paid for n single egg Of the
great aux. Of which there arc Gs eggs in
existence. America can claim two eggs OF
the great nuk-one at Vlssar college and
ono Mt tho A cadcmy OF Natural Science in
Philadelphia, Tho latter collection held
for many years among tho raritics an egg
- 1kn lF,ft ,tv IafH u tsrf
ously disappeared fow ycars ago, md 1t
Is supposed some scientific Eleptomanlao
thought 1t no sin to transfer tho treasure
20 his own collection, where ho Is holding
it for u raise In price.
Information rs to tho nesting habits OF
tho California condor hns been exceedingly
limited, and until 1889, when an cgg WINS
taken for II. Il. Taylor editor of Tho Midi
ologist, no eggs had boon taken since tho
fftles. Tho taking OF this cgg showed tho
nesting time to DO early in May, ind that
} but one egg is laid. Tho collector secured
tho great ugg aftora hazardous climb down
rope, which ho had fastened to bush on
tho bluff above. The coudor's egg was
found lying In q hollow IN the cave, with
few feathers for II nest, Tho condors had
boon frightened OF by tho discharge OF the
collectors gun and fortunately dA not re.
> turn while Ito was In tho cave. He had
= not come prepared to carry Any eggs, but
: taking oif his shirt no wrapped the egg in
1t md lowered IL to tho bottom OF tho cliff,
himself following In snCety.
MIR, Walter II. Bryant, for many years
a curator OF birds In tho California Academy
OF Sciences, showed what n collector may
endure for solonoc on ono OF his oxpodi-
tiuns to lower California, Guadnloupo is
+ land, lying 100 miles OF tho const OF lower
California, was almost an unknown terri
tory to bird students, md ho determined
Q TO visit 10. Tho Island Is uninhabitcd, and
u vessels do not usually pass near 1t, so 1t
was some time before ho managed to So,
n euro passage on a freight schooner. They
u landed him with limited supply Of pro-
visions, agreeing TO return for him In a
h week
. The woek passed, but tho schooner came
r not, md Mr.. Bryant found himself ma
$ rooned, Ilc had collected n largo lot OF
rnro specimens and discovered several new
n species OF birds. From never having seon
the face of man many Of the birds could
Il DO caught by band. Delightful rs tho To-
cation was for the enthusiastio ornitholo
o gist, the vanished supply Of provisions
u made his position on o lonely Island un
cnvinhle. lie was reduced to dining OF
It shollflsh and such birds as he could secu'
and did not escape to tho mainland unit
!. three weeks attcrward, when tho schooner
4 returned to tho island and took OF tho nat
= uralst and his specimens
The nests Of nearly all birds arc mos
!, interesting, and In them tho zoologls
l. finds much TO study and admire, from tn,
J, tiny llohon covered, downy home OF tina
70 fairy, tho humming bird, to tho gigantic
structure OF the FISH hawk, or osprey. On,
OF the most curious of nests Is that Of tn
California bushtit, cunningly woven o
n moss, down and liohon, 1t Is pensllo
{. like long purse, with tiny round en-
II trance hole ncnr Tho top for tho bird whicl
h Is not ono.tcnth as 'krRo Ms Its wonderf,,
/ nost.--San Francisco Examiner,