The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-11

Copyright. 1900, by Quail 4 wagner-)
Tr HE ornithologists OF Great Brit
ain and America have just mn
ished spirited discussion
which has lasted for more than
IL a year. as to which Is the larg-
est bird that flies. The prize
has been awarded 20 an American bird.
the great condor of the Andes. To an
other bird which is an American now
has been given the second prize. II -
the fierce harpy eagle Of the Philippines.
Our own turkey comes very near the sec
ond place, and II England succeeds IN :
present attempt At reintroducing the n
NOUS great bustard into the tight little
island, II win have the next largest bird
TO our turkey.
In this discussion. the term largest
has been defined a. meaning bird wnicn
has both the largest spread OF wing ana
the heaviest weight. This combination OF
Two essentials has made the exact choice
for second. third and fourth place
matter for fine calculation. But there is
no question about the choice for nrst
place The condor Is king.
In the United States we have. besides
the turkey, four other birds which are
ranged high in thu list of the largest ny
ing birds. They are the beautiful golden
eagle. the national bald-headed eagle. the
great Wild swan known specifically -
the whooper, and the California CONDOR
which IL almost az largf as his south
American brother.
In many respects the South American
condor IL the most remarkable Of all iiv-
ing creatures. No other bird can hy 30
high Humboldt saw one nyfng over
Chimborazo at height of over 5000 feet.
II seems TO fy m easily and breathe ~
easily in the rarefied atmosphere at that
great height as II does at the level OF the
sea. No other created being can do this.
.x4.. al
80 far above the earth. When flying It
sails In majestic circles or hangs poised
IN the air as II suspended there by an In
visible cord Darwin once watched .
condor for half an hour a. It hung over
an Andean valley and never once DID ne
detect the slightest movement In the
great bird or its widespread pinions. Its
home Il above the snow line. and II
chooses as its favorits dwelling places
where great cliffs descend sheer down for
thousands OF feet II wanders sometimes
10 where the cliffs Of Patagonia frown
over the troubled seas. but prefers 70
seek its food In the mountain valleys. II
Il bird blessed with an appetite as re-
markable as itself. and one condor mas
been known to devour calf. dog and
sheen In 4 single week On the other
hand. II can 20 without food for more
than forty days. BY preference the con-
dor feeds on carbon but X no carrion
ofYers II win not hesitate to attack shssp.
goats or small deer
Probably no other creatad animal mas
such keen sight a. the condor. From tre-
mendous heights ana from great dtstenoes
ID can spy Z carcass and Will swoop down
on II With the rush and speed Of the wind
sweeping through the mountain eorges.
Though a goods sized condor measures fif-
teen feet IN It's expanse OF wing-condors
have been shot with that spread-there
seems TO be no authentic record Of the
weight OF condor Of that size. Tho
weight of the bird Is estimated by good
authorities, however, Mt about forty
pounds for one with ffteen-foot spread
OF wing. Old travellers tales tell OF con-
doris with an eightsen-foot spread Of wing,
but there In no authentic record Of bird
having been measured which comes up to
those figures. Two nne specimens Of this
condor reached tho New York Geological
Society recently and arc installed now In
q cage In the Bronx park. New York.
They are not nearly full grown. but thsy
are huge birds even at the present stage
OF their development.
A popular English belief among certain
classes In that Of the phantom hustard of
Hampstead Heath, After tho bird had
disappeared from England In his proper
form mysterious phantom buxtard used
to fiit at night across the favorite resort
OF AIRY and 'Arriet. and may possibly do