THE NORTHERN RAVEN. 



ALTHO nowhere abundant, in the sense which obtains among smaller 

 species, nor as widely distributed as some, there is probably no other bird 

 which has attracted such universal attention, or has left so deep an impress 

 upon history and literature as the Raven. Primitive man has always felt the 

 spell of his sombre presence, and the Raven was as deeply imbedded in the folk- 

 lore of the maritime Grecian trilies as he is today in that of the Makahs and 

 Ouillayutes upon our own coast. Komx. the Greek called him, in imitation of 

 his hoarse cry, Kraack. kraack: while the Sanskrit name, Karava, re\-eals the 

 ancient root from which have s])rung Ijoth Crow and Ravai. 



Quick-sighted, cimniiig, and audacious, this Ijird of sinister aspect has 

 been invested by peoples of all ages with a, mysterious and semi-sacred char- 

 acter. His ominous croakings w-ere thought io have prophetic import, while 

 his preternatural shre\\dness has made him, with many, a symbol of divine 

 knowledge. We may not go such lengths, but we are justified in placing this 

 bird at the head o-f our list ; and we must agree with Professor Alfred 

 Newton that the Raven is "the largest of the Birds of the Order Passeres, 

 and probably the most highly developed of all Birds." 



The Raven is a bird O'f the wilderness: and, in spite of all his cunning, 

 he fares but ill in the presence of breech-loaders and iconoclasts. While 

 it has not been the oljject of anv special persecution in Washington, it seems 

 to share the fate reserved for all who' lift their heads above the common 

 level; and it is now nearly confined in its local distribution tO' the Olympic 

 peninsula; and is nowhere common, save in the x-icinity of the Indian villages 

 which still cling to oiu' western shore. 



In appearance the Raven presents man}' points of difference from the 

 Common Crow, especially when contrasted with the dwarf examjiles of the 

 northwestern race. It is not only larger, Imt its tail is relative!}' much longer, 

 and fullv rounded. The head, too, is fuller, and the l)ill proportionately 

 stouter with more rounded culmen. The feathers of the neck are loosely 

 arranged, resulting in an impressive shagginess : and there is a sort of un- 

 couthness alxuit these ancient liirds, as compared with the more dapper Crow. 



Ravens are unscrupulous in diet, and therefrom has arisen much of the 

 dislike which has attached to them. They not only subsist upon insects, 

 worms, frogs, shellfish, and cast-up offal, init devour the eggs and young of 

 sea-birds ; and, when pressed by hunger, do not scruple to attack rabbits, young 

 lambs, or seal pups. In fact, nothing fleshly and edible comes amiss to them. 

 In collecting along the sea-coast I once lost some sandpipers, — which I had 

 not had time tO' prepare the evening before — because the dark watcher was 

 "up first". Like the Fish Crow, they hang about the Indian villages to some 



