The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24
S-A-S----
BIGGEST OF ALL BIRDS.
The Great south American Condor
Weighs Forty Pounds.

weighs Forty Pounds.
From the New York World.
The subject of big birds has recently
been discussed by many ornithologists,
with view to ascertaining which fly
ing bird is the largest in the world.
In the New York Geological Gardens
is a specimen of the condor. This huge
feathered freak belongs to the family
which produces the largest known bird
Not only is the condor the largest bird
that flies, but in its flight 1t goes higher
than any other living creature.
South America produces the largest con-
doris. Some Of them weigh more than
forty pounds and measure from tip to
tip from fifteen to eighteen feet. Their
strength has been noted on more than
one occasion to be more than that of
man.
When Won Humboldt was making obser-
vations in South America near Mount
Chimborazo he saw condors flying high
over the top of the mountain Their
altitude must have been not less than
q 600 feet
A remarkable feature in connection
with the flight of the condor consists in
its ability to fly upward without Tapping
Its wings. This it does in a series of
circles which enlarge as the bird wheels
upward in a species of opening spiral
The condor has also the power of pOis-
ing itself absolutely still in the air. OAR
win observed condor at a great altitude
remain perfectly still for half an hour.
No movement was observed during this
period, though doubtless there must have
been some imperceptible movement.
The next largest bird to the condor is
the harry eagle, found both in South
America and the Philippines. These
birds do not weigh so much as condors
and the spread of wing Is not so large.
They are far more fierce in their man
ner of attack, however, and are more
dreaded by natives.
The South America harpy eagles were
so named by Jesuit traveller, who first
took note of their predatory character
He recalled the ancient NEUROLOGICAL tales
about the Greek harpies, which were wont
to fly down on festive occasions, destroy
ing everything within reach and even
carrying off persons.
The harry eagle is larger than any other
bird of the eagle class. Its weight and
stretch of wing from tip to tip make it
rank as the second largest bird that flies.
1t has a spread Of wing from eight to
twelve feet.
The harry eagle is very swift, being
easily able to outstrip the birds upon
which It preys. 1t has also very keen
vision. II is able to see, so those say
| who have closely observed ii, a white
patch no larger than a hens egg on a
green tree or field two miles distant.
Next to the harry eagle in weight but
not so great in spread of wing, comes
| the bustard. Bustards have been known
! TO weigh thirty pounds, but their wing
| spread is never more than nine feet. In
early days bustards inhabited the CEN
trail and northern parts OF Europe, but
they were much sought after for their
delicate flesh.
In Canada the bustard corresponds in 3
measure to the wild goose though II is
not so large as the European bustard.
Bustards do not resemble in the least
! az some have imagined-the buzzards OF
North America. The former are related
| 70 the crane and plover family, whereas
buzzards belong TO the hawk family, and
! are never eaten
owing to its weight and size. the bus
tard holds a place next 10 the harry
eagle Bustards do not hy rapidly and
are more harmless than the harry
Wild turkeys come next to bustards,
both in size aud spread OF wing. Audubon
made observations of turkeys Weighing
! more than thirty pounds. Tame turkeys
| also reach that weight.
The spread OF wing Of the turkey IL
NOT so great as that Of either the harry
eagle or the bustard Hence the Wild
/ turkey has 10 be rolegated TO q fourth
/ place IN the lst Of biggest birds"
via swans come next in THIS catalogue
Of large birds. Some wild swans have
been found 10 weigh twenty-eiRht pounds
| II IL estimated that thc weight or these
birds sometimes approaches thirty pounds.
/ The spread Of wing of the wild swan is
not very great seldom exceeding slN feet
As 40 tho eNpanse ~ wing, n seems the
slbafross holds thc palm lts stretch from
wing W wing 10 0ftDn os great as seven.
teen feet
NeEf ~ these comes fho golden eagle.
Ihls hifd Nfghs gcnrfHlly about twelve
pounds ono BIOL wing meafurcmeDt Del
seven i0 eight frlf
Ths "srrat American eaFif" Whicb n.y.
pIlcf enc Union. seldom sfaeadh frn
pounds lD Hf.sDf, ana o. HlHE stretch