THE RAVEN. 241 



Apart from all traditional belief, the Eaven derives its 

 ill-omened character as a herald of death from the rapidity 

 with which it discerns, in the vicinity of its haunts, the 

 carcase of any dead animal. In the coldest winter days, 

 at Hudson's Bay, when every kind of effluvium is greatly 

 checked if not arrested by frost, buffaloes and other beasts 

 have been killed when not one of these birds was to be 

 seen ; but in a few hours scores of them have been found 

 collected about the spot to pick up the blood and offal. 

 "In Ravens,^' says a writer in the Zoologist ^^ "the 

 senses of smell and sight are remarkably acute and power- 

 ful. Perched usually on some tall cliff that commands a 

 wide survey, these faculties are in constant and rapid 

 exercise, and all the movements of the bird are regulated 

 in accordance with the information thus procured. The 

 smell of death is so grateful to them that they utter a loud 

 croak of satisfaction instantly on perceiving it. In passing 

 any sheep, if a tainted smell is perceptible, they cry vehe- 

 mently. From this propensity in the Eaven to announce 

 his satisfaction in the smell of death has probably arisen 

 the common notion that he is aware of its approach among 

 the human race, and foretells it by his croakings." The 

 same observant author, as quoted by Macgillivray,t says 

 again : " Their sight and smell are very acute, for when 

 they are searching the wastes for provision, they hover 

 over them at a great height ; and yet a sheep will not be 

 dead many minutes before they will find it. JSTay, if a 

 morbid smell transpire from any in the flock, they will 

 watch it for days till it die." 



To such repasts they are guided more by scent than by 

 sight, for though they not unfrequently ascend to a great 

 height in the air, they do not then appear to be on the look- 

 out for food. This duty is performed more conveniently 

 and with greater success by beating over the ground at a low 



* Vol. i. p. 215. t British Birds, vol. i. p. 510. 



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