nacity of life which
they possess: it can only be done when the shot takes effect in a vital
part. This method, therefore, is not much practised. A second plan is,
to wait until the condor has gorged himself to repletion, when, like
most other vultures, he is unable to fly for some time after. The
hunters then gallop up, and lasso him from their horses; or impede his
flight by flinging the `bolas' around his legs. The `bolas' are thongs
of leather, with leaden balls at each end; and these, when adroitly
thrown, twine themselves round the shanks of the condor, and prevent his
escape. A third mode is still a surer one. The hunters build a large
penn, in which they place a quantity of carrion. The palisades that
inclose this penn are made so high, that, when the bird has gorged
himself, he is unable either to rise into the air or get out of the
enclosure in any way; and he is then overtaken and captured, or beaten
to death with clubs.

"The Indians kill the condor by stones, projected from slings to a great
distance--a species of weapon which these people use with much
dexterity.

"Condors are taken alive in traps and snares; but there is an excellent
and somewhat curious method of capturing them alive, sometimes employed
by the Indians of the Sierras. It is this:--The hunter provides himself
with the skin of some animal, such as an ox or horse, freshly taken off,
and with a piece of the flesh adhering to it. With this he proceeds to
some open place, where the condors, wheeling high in the air above, may
readily see him. Having chosen a spot, he crouches down upon the
ground, and draws the skin over him, with the fleshy side turned upward.
In this situation he remains; but not long, until some one of the
condors, with his far-piercing glance, espies the ensanguined object,
and comes swooping downward. The bird, having no suspicion, hops boldly
upon the hide; and commences tearing at the piece of flesh. The hunter,
underneath, now cautiously feels for one of its legs; and having assured
himself of this, grasps it firmly, folding the foot of the bird in the
soft loose flaps of the hide. Having already provided himself with a
long rope, he adroitly nooses it around the ankle; and, taking the other
end in his hand, he now appears from under the skin, and shows himself
to his astonished captive. Of course, during the operation of
`tethering,' the condor flaps and struggles with all his might; and were
it not for