The Brown Owl. OFORKNEY. 45 



magde-howletjit maybe considered everywhere as one of these 

 creatures that nature has, in some measure, tamed, and given 

 to man to be domesticated, for its retreats are so near him 

 that a httle familiarity, I imagine, would render this creature, 

 who in a manner offers its services to mankind, almost as useful 

 as its kindred cat, and notabit more mischievous than the great- 

 er part of these but half- tamed and ever suspicious domestics. 

 There are none of the butcher kind in Orkney that ever I 

 could find 



ORDER II.— PIES. 

 GENUS III.^CROWS. 



Ge«. C^ar.— Bill strong ; upper mandible a little convex ; edges cultrated ; nos- 

 trils covered with bristles reflected over them ; tongue divided at the end ; 

 toes three forward, one backward ; the middle joined to the outmost as far as 

 the first joint. 



Species 1. — The Raven. 



Will. Orn. 19,1. Rati Syn. Av. 39. Cox\\xsCorajL,Lin.Sys.\55. Brit.Zool. 

 166. Corvus, the Raven Nostralibus, the Corbie, Sib. Scot. 15. Ore. 

 Corby. 



In thewinter and spring vast flocks of corbies are seen here, 

 but are very wild ; when breeding-time draws near they grow 



