Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
around the green leads to a grassy knoll about 100
feet from where it had fed. It stood here for some time
until a Calf walked towards it when this Condor hopped
into the air and flew about 200 feet to a low
knoll to the east. Here it stood and appeared to be
rubbing its head and neck in the grass, then stood still
for two or three minutes. At 2:30 P.M. this Condor
ducked its heads, opened its wings, hopped two or
three times as it pumped its wings and was airborne.
After leaving the ground it pumped 4 or 5 more times,
than commenced to sail when not over 60 or 70 feet
above the ground, and with no more pumping, was soon
high above the area.
Turning Northeast this Condor went into a moderated
flex slide and headed Northeast-flying slowly and very
smoothly. At 2:45, this Condor discontinued this glide
and circled to gain more altitude. During this circling I
lost sight of the bird and could not relocate it. Just prior
to stopping its long glide to circle it had turned its course
somewhat to the North-West.
On examining the Calf Carcass, on which the Condor fed, I found
no break in the skin anywhere. No sign of bloating was
evident-the flank was slack and the area about the
anus was loose and flabby and the opening of the
anus itself appeared enlarged, and opened, with seven
inches of a small intestine hanging out of
the anus. Tracks gave every indication that most, if not
all, the feeding, that had been done on this carcass, had been
accomplished through the anus.
The only flaw in this Condor's Plumage was the Secondary Feather
missing from the left wing about the 4th or 5th from the outside-
Left wing Going away-
Left wing
Coming Towards