THE COMMON CROW. 289 



nothing that is capable of damage, a single Raven will get through more mischief in one hour 

 than a posse of boys in twelve ; and as he always seems to imagine himself engaged in the per- 

 formance of some extremely exemplary duty, and works his wicked will as methodically as if 

 he had been regularly trained to the task and very well paid for it, he excites no small amount 

 of rage on the part of the aggrieved person. I have personally known several tame Ravens, 

 but as I have already recorded their performances elsewhere, I shall not here repeat the story 

 of their ill deeds. 



The Raven is an excellent linguist, acquiring the art of conversation with wonderful 

 rapidity, and retaining with a singularly powerful memory many sounds which it has once 

 learned. Whole sentences are acquired by this strange bird, and repeated with great accuracy 

 of intonation, the voice being a good imitation of human speech, but always sounding as if 

 spoken from behind a thick woollen wrapper. So remarkable is the cunning of this bird, and 

 so weird-like its aspect, that the ancient Scandinavians had good cause for the trembling 

 respect which they paid to the sullen "Bird of Odin." Their idea of the Raven was, that it 

 was accustomed to watch for Odin's return every evening, and, perched upon his shoulder, to 

 relate all the incidents that had taken place on earth within its ken. 



As the bird is so crafty, its capture would seem to be a very difficult business, and the 

 number of tame Ravens now existing in England seems to be almost remarkable. The fact is, 

 that while still unfledged the young ravens have a strange habit of falling out of their nests, 

 and Happing their wings heavily to the ground. Next morning they are found by the shep- 

 herds, sitting croaking on the ground beneath their former homes, and are then captured and 

 taken away with comparative ease. Even in this case, however, to secure one of the young 

 Ravens is no slight task, for, on seeing that escape is impossible, it turns boldly to bay, and 

 makes such fierce attacks with its powerful beak that it must be enveloped in a cloth or a 

 plaid before it can safely be held. It is remarkable that when a Raven makes its assault it 

 does not merely peck with its beak, but flings its whole weight upon the blow. 



The raven is also celebrated for its longevity, many instances being known where it has 

 attained the age of seventy or eighty years, without losing one jot of its activity, or the fading 

 of one spark from its eyes. What may be the duration of a Raven's life in its wild state is 

 quite unknown. 



The color of the Raven is a uniform blue-black, with green reflections in certain lights. 

 The female is always larger than her mate. 



The Raven (Corvus corax carnivorus). On the steep and almost inaccessible cliffs of 

 Grand Menan a few Ravens breed, but none are seen elsewhere, excepting in the Northwest. 

 Around Niagara Ravens are rather common. It is observed that where these birds abound 

 the Crows are not seen. This bird is regarded as identical with the European species. 



A species, found in Florida, having the under side of the feathers a pure white, is called 

 the White-necked Crow. 



THE COMMON CROAV (Corvus frugfoorus) is abundant throughout America to the Mis- 

 souri region, and is also common on the California coast. It is not found on the high central 

 plains. In New England, during mild winters, it is resident through the year. The Crow is 

 eminently gregarious. 



Wilson says: "Towards the close of summer the parent Crows, with their new families, 

 forsaking their solitary lodgings, collect together as if by previous agreement, when evening 

 approaches. About an hour before sunset they are observed flying, in Indian file, in one direc- 

 tion, at a short height above the trees, silent and steady, keeping the general curvature of the 

 ground, continuing to pass sometimes until after sunset, so that the whole line of march would 

 extend several miles. This circumstance, so familiar and picturesque, has not been overlooked 

 by the poets in their description of a rural evening. Burns in a single line has finely sketched it : 



"'The blackening trains of Crows to their repose.'" 



The Crow feeds equally well on grain and insect food, reptiles and shell-fish. It has a 

 habit of mounting to a certain height, and dropping any shell-fish it cannot break otherwise, 



VOL. IL-87. 



