RAVEN. 209 



The Raven is remarkable also for his longevity, being 

 known to live more than a century. Although closely 

 related to the tribes of smaller birds, with which he is 

 very properly associated, yet he may still be considered 

 as holding the place also of an additional link in the 

 order of nature between the two preceding tribes of rapa- 

 cious birds, namely, the Vultures and Hawks. 



The color of the Raven is a fine black, relieved with purple reflec- 

 tions above; tail black and much rounded. Bill strong, and, as well 

 as the feet, black. The iris with 2 circles, greyish white, and cinere- 

 ous brown. The female is a little smaller. It varies sometimes to 

 total whiteness, or is of a yellowish white. Occasionally some parts 

 of the body are white, and others black or rufous. 



THE CROW. 



(Corvus coro7ie, Lin. Wilson, iv. p. 79. pi. 35. fig. 3. Phil. Museum, 



No. 1246.) 



Sp. Charact. — Black and glossy, with violet- colored reflections; 

 the tail somewhat rounded, extending but little beyond the 

 wings ; the feathers of the tail acute ; the 4th primary longest, 

 with the 1st equal to the 9th. [Length 18^ inches.] 



The Crow, like the Raven, which it greatly resembles, 

 is a denizen of nearly the whole world. They are found 

 even in New Holland, and the Philippine Islands ; they 

 are, however, rare in Sweden, where the Raven abounds, 

 as they are in the western part of the United States, 

 where this superior species likewise frequents ; nor are 

 they common in the warmer parts of the Union, in conse- 

 quence of the same antipathy or persecution which they 

 experience from the Vultures. They are also common 

 in Siberia, and plentiful in the artic deserts beyond the 



Lena. 



18* 



