Some few snakes are found in the hedges, but they are quite harmless. The _alacran_, scorpion, is venomous, but not more painful than the sting of a wasp.
Of the feathered tribe the majestic _condor_ stands most conspicuous, whether on the ground extending its wings, which often measure fourteen feet from tip to tip, or soaring among the clouds, in appearance not larger than a swallow. The flight of this bird is truly majestic; it rises with an almost imperceptible tremulous motion of the wings, and falls to the ground in the same manner; it pounces on its prey, if a lamb or any other small animal, and bears it off in its talons to some neighbouring mountain; if the prey be too large, the condor will feed on it till unable to fly, when it becomes itself the easy prey of the villagers, who run it down and kill it with clubs.
The _gallinaso_, or turkey buzzard, as it is sometimes called, from its resemblance to a turkey, is a very useful bird; it is the public scavenger, devours all kinds of carrion, and on this account is seldom or never killed.
A few small eagles and hawks are troublesome among the poultry, and destroy great numbers. Wild ducks frequent the mouths of the rivers, where we find gulls and other aquatic birds, among which we frequently discover the pelican.
The singing birds are the _cilguero_, a kind of linnet; the blackbird, resembling in size and note the English blackbird; the _titupuying_, which is something like the cardinal. A species of wood pigeon is very common, and in allusion to its note is called coo coo lee; it is easily tamed, and will coo at any hour of the night, if a candle be lighted, but never more than three times before it ceases or rests.
Some of the rivers have plenty of _lisa_, a species of mullet, _peje rey_, and _camarones_; the sea fish on the coast are _corbina_, _chita_, _jureles_, a kind of mackerel, _peje rey_, and _lenguado_, a species of turbot. Shell fish is scarce, but small muscles and limpets are generally found. The natives cook and eat a sea weed which grows on the rocks, known by the name of _yuyo de la mar_. On the shore among the sand a small white stone is found, called _piedra del ojo_, or _limpia ojos_; it is about the size of a lentil, and of an opaque white colour; the natives pretend that by putting one of them under the eyelid, it will travel round the eye, and then fall out, bringing with it any extraneous matter that may have been lodged in this delicate organ.