morrow. Our host kindly offered to slaughter an old mare as bait, and having decided to kill the animal that night, we proceeded to rub over the carcase the twenty pounds of salt brought with us for that purpose. The object of ihis is to quicken the digestion of the Condor, so that it may not be able to disgorge its meal, which it invariably does when disturbed at feeding-time—no doubt to diminish its specific gravity and give it a chance of rising more speedily from the ground. Having made all necessary arrangements for the anticipated morrow, we retired to the shady orchard, regaling ourselves on the ripe fruit, and about dusk re-entered the house for a dance until 10 p.m., when a late dinner was served, the piece de résistance of which was roast kid. Amongst the dishes common on the Sierras may be mentioned stewed owls, parrots, wheat soup, &c, all of which, if not to taste of the epicure, form welcome additions to the carte of the traveller. Thoroughly tired, and yet with fevered pulse, we now sought the dovvnv pillow; two moments sufficed to woo the fickle god, who prolonged our sleep till cockcrow. Springing from our couches at this signal, we despatched a peon to reconnoitre, but no condors were yet visible; in fact, this gluttonous vulture, like its human congeners, is a very late riser.
After the despatch of two or three other messengers, we had the satisfaction of learning, about 9 a.m., that the Condors were arriving. In fact, we had no need of messengers; these Sarcorhampi announced themselves from every quarter of the horizon, looming up in successive lines. And now all was hurry and confusion, saddling, coiling lassos, &c, for when once the Condors make their appearance very little grace is allowed, and less than half an hour suffices to leave only the bones of an ox or horse. In about ten minutes we were ready to start, our party consisting of Don Palemon Carrauza, Don Enrique Cooke and myself, with four peons all well mounted and armed with lassos and bolas, but badly off for fire-arms. The field of battle was not far distant and was well-chosen, the bait having been placed on the gentle declivity of a grassy hill free from stones, whose summit shielded our approach from view. Reaching the brow, we put spurs to our horses and and charged right down upon the Condors. Imagine the scene of confusion that then ensued at the banquet table, when more than fifty magnificent Condors flapped their huge wings and endeavoured to rise. I had only just time to throw myself off my horse, when
