RAVEN. 515 



to break his leg, and during the period of his confinement, the 

 Raven waited on him constantly, carried him his provisions, 

 and scarcely ever left him alone. One night, by accident, the 

 stable door had been shut, and Ralph had been deprived of his 

 friend's company all night ; but the os-tler found, in the morn- 

 ing, the door so pecked away, that had it not been opened, in 

 another hour Ralph would have made his own entrance. The 

 landlord not only confirmed the ostler's account, but mentioned 

 many other acts of kindness shewn by this bird to all dogs in 

 general, but more particularly to maimed or wounded ones." " 



I know no British bird possessed of more estimable qualities 

 than the Raven. His constitution is such as to enable him to 

 brave the fury of the most violent tempests, and to subsist 

 amidst the most intense cold ; he is strong enough to repel any 

 bird of his own size, and his spirit is such as to induce him to 

 attack even the eagle ; his affection towards his mate and 

 young is great, although not superior to that manifested by 

 many other birds ; in sagacity he is not excelled by any other 

 species ; and his power of vision is at least equal to that of 

 most others, not excepting the birds of prey, for he is generally 

 the first to discover a carcase. To man, however, he seems to 

 be more injurious than useful, as he is accused of killing sickly 

 sheep, sometimes destroys lambs, and frequently carries oiF the 

 young and eggs of domestic poultry. For this reason he is 

 generally proscribed, and in many districts a price is put upon 

 his head ; but his instinct and reason suffice to keep the race 

 from materially diminishing. As his flesh is not palatable, 

 it is not probable that he could be useful in the domestic state. 

 He seems to have fewer feathered enemies than most other 

 birds ; for although he may often be seen pursuing gulls, 

 hawks, and eagles, I have never observed any species attacking 

 him, with the exception of the domestic cock, which I have 

 seen give battle to him, and even drive him off. It has been 

 alleged, however, that rooks assail him in defence of their 

 young, and there is nothing incredible in this, for the weakest 

 bird will often in such a case attack the most powerful and 

 rapacious. 



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