RAVEN. 715 



under circumstances similar to those of the common, its definite 

 and circumscribed residence, are singular facts ; for, although 

 a full or partial albino E,aven may as a matter of great rarity 

 occur in other coimtries, in none is the bird to be met with 

 that I have heard of so numerously as in Foero. Is the Raven 

 of Piebald colour, or peculiarity of habit, or species, or domes- 

 ticated, to be found anywhere in Asia ISlinor i On the whole, 

 I am inclined to the opinion that the ancient Scandinavians 

 kept the Raven, and perhajis the Gyrfalcon in a semi-domestic 

 state for many ages ; that probably the breeds of both were 

 originally brought by them from the East, and that long-con- 

 tinued domestication especially is the cause of the occurrence 

 of Piebald Ravens, which is comparatively so common in some 

 of the more distant colonies of Norway, such as Foero and Ice- 

 land. A curious presumption would, from these desultory 

 speculations in which I have indulged, seem to arise for the 

 Asiatic origin of the Scandinavians ; and thus ornithology 

 would throw light on a most important and influential epoch 

 in the history and migrations of nations ; and further, it might 

 lend weight to the arguments for Revealed Theology by corro- 

 borating the facts and traditions of Noah's Deluge. Amoncr 

 some of the tribes of the Caucasian range might we then wan- 

 der, to unfold the germs of many of the institutions of the 

 Gothic race, instead of taking Tacitus and Torfoeus for our 

 guides, and limiting our researches into the theory of our man- 

 ners, and the foundations of our jurisprudence, to the woods 

 of Germany or the rocks of Scandinavia." 



Mr Mackinnon, factor for St Kilda, informs me that Ravens 

 are very abundant there, and attain a large size. He has never 

 observed any white or pied individuals. 



CORVUS CORONE. THE HODDY OR CARRION CROW. 

 Vol. I, p. 516. 



Mr Harley has favoured me with the following account of this 

 bird, as observed by him in the county of Leicester: — " Although 

 the Raven has been totally exterminated in this part of the 



