File:Reptiles and birds - a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting (1883) (14752154032).jpg

Identifier: reptilesbirds00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Reptiles Birds
Publisher: London : Cassell & Co.

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totally unable to proceed on the journey,it becomes the prey of these winged banditti, which often commencetheir meal before life has left the exhausted body. M. de Castelnau,who has studied the Condor in the Andes, writes with regard to thissubject:— Travellers, who have sunk down upon the ground when utterlyworn-out with fatigue and suffering, have been known to be attacked,and finally torn to pieces, by these ferocious birds, which pluck stripsof flesh oft their victims, having first disabled them with blows of thewing. The unfortunates may resist for a time, but ere long a fewblood-stained fragments are all that remain to announce to thepasser-by the horrible death suffered by those who preceded him onthese dangerous paths. The Condor possesses extraordinary tenacity of life. Humboldt THE CONDOR. 603 relates that he found it impossible to strangle one, and that he wascompelled to shoot it to put an end to its existence. When the Condor is gorged with food it becomes very heavy,
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Fig. 282. — King; Vulti and unwilling to fly. The Indians, who are well aware of thispeculiarity, take advantage of it to destroy the robber thus:—CaiTion is placed in full view to entice the Condors. When thebirds have thoroughly surfeited themselves they are hunted on horse-back and entangled with lassoes, to be finally beaten to death withclubs. 604 REPTILES AND BIRDS. Condors do not assemble in flocks except when devouring ananimal of great size. The hen bird lays a couple of eggs in acrevice on the mountains or clifts; nest-building they entirely disregard.The rearing of the young requires several months; the parent birdsfeed them by disgorging into their bills the food which they havestored in their crops. All the Vulture tribe do the same. The Condor is tamed with difficulty; captivity seems only toincrease its savage nature. Humboldt kept one at Quito for eightdays, and he states that to approach it was always dangerous. The King Vulture (Sarcoramphuspapa, Fig. 282) is dis

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