Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-28

Great South American Condor Weighs
Forty Pounds.


Forty Pounds.
The subject OF big birds has recently
been discussed by many ornithologists,
says the New York World, with Wow
TO asoertaining which flying bird is the
largest In the world.
In the New York Geological Gardens
ia 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 IL goes higher than any other
living creature.
|. Sluth America produces the largest
condors. Some OF them weigh more
tuan 40 pounds and measure from tip
to tip from 10 to IS feet The strength
has been noted on mtre than one oc-
casion tp be more than that OF man.
When Won Humboldt was making oh
servations In South America near
Mount Chimborazo he saw condors fly
ing high over the top Of the mountain.
Their altitude must haze bsen not
less than $1,000 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 o
series OF circles which enlarge a. the
bird wheels upward 10 epeJies OF
opening spiral.
The condor has also the power Of
poising itself absolutely still in the air.
Darwin observed condor at a q eat
altitude remain perfectly still for half
an hour. No movements was observed
during this period, though doubtless
there must have been some impercepti.
BILE movement.
The next largest bird to the condor
is the harpy engle, 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
manner OF attack. however, and are
more dreaded by natives.
The South American 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 we're wont TO fly down
on fe3tiye occasions, destroying every
thing within reach and even carrying
of persons.
The harpy eagle ia 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. IL has spread Of wing
of from to II feet.
The harry eagle is very swift, being
easily able to outstrip the birds upon
which it preys. 1t has so very keen
vision. lt is able to see, so those say
who have closely observed it, a white
patch no larger than hem egg on
a green tree or field two miles distant.
Next to the harpy eagle in weight,
but not SO great In spread OF wing,
comes the bustard. Bustards have
been known to weigh 30 pounds, but
their wingspread is never more than
nine feet. In early days bustards in
habited the central and northern parts
| of Europe, but they were much sought
| after for their delicate flesh.
In Canada the bustard corresponds
in measure to the wild goose, though
IL is not so large as the European
| bustard.
l}ustards do not. resemble in the
least -as some have imagined-the
buzzards of North America. The
| former are related to the crane and
| plover family, whereas buzzards belong
to the hawk family and are never
| eaten.
Owing to its weight and size, the
bustard holds place next to the harry
eagle Bustards do not fly rapidly and
are more harmless than the harry.
Wild turkeys come next to buatards
both in size and spread Of wing
Audubon made observations Of turkeys
weighing more than 30 pounds. Tame
turkeys also reach thar weight.
The spread of wing OF ths turkey is
not so great as that Of either the harry
eagle or the bustard. Hence the wild
turkey has to be relegated to fourth
place in the list Of biggest birds. y
Wild swans come next 10 this cata-
logue of large birds. Some wild swans
hare been found TO weigh 90 pounds.
1t is estimated that the weight OF
these birds sometimes approaches 80
pounds. The spread of wing of the
wild swan is not very great, seldom ex-
ceeding six feet.
AS to expanie OF wing, il seems the
albatross holds the palm. Its stretch
from wing to wing is often rs great
as II feet.
Next to these comes the golden eagle.
This bird weighs generally about u
pounds and its wing measurement is
sssen to eight feet.
The great American eagle" which
typifies the Union, seldom exceeds 10
pounds in weight, and its wing stretch
is not often more than seven feet.
This bird can, however, ascend to
such height that it disappears from
view.