The wings of those great creatures have an expanse of from twelve to fourteen feet, which, with the broad, strong membrane connecting wings with thighs affords a tremendous lifting power, enabling them to rise with marvellous velocity to a great height. When in flight their long tail feathers spread like a huge fan, not only augmenting the rapidity of their flight but steadying it. Observe their feline heads, which, like their short, thick necks, are covered with feathers so minute as to resemble hair. Instead of bills they have protuberant mouths lined with a bony structure in which are embedded short, sharp teeth with which they can, as once I learned to my cost, inflict severe injury, though really they are of a gentle nature, as is evinced in their large, mild, fearless, inquiring eyes. When fully grown, from tip of mouth to tip of tail, they are about eight feet long. Their great plumed wings and tails and their heads so feline in form and appearance suggest the idea of composite creatures, partaking of the characteristics of both bird and animal, and when in flight they present an imposing but most uncanny appearance. Only the males have mottled plumage; the females uniformly are of a dull brown color. As I have stated, west of Indolois[a:] is an extensive region which, for many centuries, has been a desert waste, which has been shunned and left to the forces of the hot winds, ever blowing its loose sands in blinding, stifling clouds over its levelled surface. Recently air transports passed over this forbidding waste, but at the time of which I shall speak, practically it was nearly an unknown land. Prior to the death of my parents I, with some scientific friends, some students and attendants, were, for the purpose of ascertaining the feasibility of reclaiming some portions of the waste lands, exploring the desert, which, to our inquiring minds, offered many attractions. Leisurely we had journeyed from southward to northward, but we were very weary, as were our milch and burthen bearing animals, who were panting from fatigue and the excessive heat. Overhead the azure sky was like a great canopy in which the glowing sun with slanting beams gave promise of the longed for coolness of the approaching evening. Suddenly, high overhead appeared a large, shadowy form, flying with exceeding swiftness. As it flew farther away our gaze followed it with eager curiosity, for in our indistinct view of it we recognized that it was a bird quite unknown to us. When it had almost disappeared from our view it turned about and with incredible velocity came toward us, curiosity seemingly impelling it to a closer scrutiny of our party. When nearly overhead, in ever narrowing circles it dropped lower and lower until it was no more than two hundred feet or so above us. A strange bird, cried some. A winged animal, cried others. A monster, was the final verdict of all. As it gazed at us curiously and apparently without apprehension, we, agape,