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 Jan., 191o LIFE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR 11 buttons on my coat, and he was gentler than any pet cat or dog. Every move he made was with care as if afraid of being too rough. Of course, if he were scared or struck at, he would strike back. But there was never the least indication of savage- hess when he was well treated. If I held meat in my hand, he nibbled to get it, but never once did he bite. A young condor is the incarnation of tgliness to most people. He is known only as a degenerate and a carrion-eater. But there is more than this in the condor nature. He readily adapts himself to better conditions and rises above the position that nature has forced him to occupy. The instinct for cleanliness was strong; he wanted fresh clean meat and fresh running water. In the condor home far back in the mountains I saw the display of a deeper love and affection than I have ever seen in bird life. In the absence of his own kind, General took human companionship not passively, but he showed that it pleased him. Why should such a creature be revolting? He was not ugly to me. It was not only the outward appearance but the inner nature of the bird that we learned to know. He was not stupid, contrary to some writers. He saw everything. He had a temper and showed anger when there was cause. At other times he was gentle and always ready to be petted. Behind his rough exterior and his appear- ance of savageness, this young condor showed a nature that was full of love and gentleness. By the middle of August, General was well fledged except that his breast was still covered with gray down. By aother month this was replaced by brown feathers. With wings extended, he measured over eight feet. He weighed twenty and a half pounds and was forty-six inches in length. The wing feathers were strong, but they 'could not yet support his heavy body, for as yet he could fly but a few yards. After a continued and close study of over six months, the young condor had grown almost to maturity and we had carried our obs.vations as far as the condi- tions would allow. On September 29, 1906, General left Portland, Oregon, to take up more commodious quarters in the New York Zoological Park. During the summer he is kept in, the flying cage where he has room to fly about and get plenty of exercise. During the winter he has been kept inside as a protection from a cli- mate much colder than that of his native land. When General first arrived in New York, he was placed in the cage with an- other California Cond6r which was then at the. Park. The two immediately became fast friends and both seemed to enjoy company. But in less than two weeks after that, the'first bird died, so up to the present time General has had no companion of his own kind. During the month of December, 1906, while I was in New York, I went out to see General and was allowed to enter the cage with him. The minute I got near enough, he began nibbling my buttons and putting his head under my arm. I did not seethe young condor again until December 6, 1908, when I was in New York. I again entered his cage and found him as friendly and affectionate as ever. He nibbled the buttons on my coat and wanted to be petted. I was very much surprized to find that he showed no signs of bright color about his head, as it was covered with short gray down. He had been in good health, but at the age of almost three years he had not acquired the bright coloring of his parents. It is in- teresting to note that the head of a newly-hatcht condor, as well as that of the old bird, is perfectly bald; yet the head of the immature condor for the first few years is covered with a thick coat of furry down.