766 RA TIT^—RA VEN 



of Cohmiha ; (4) Crypturi of Crijpturus ( = Tinamns) ; and (5) Iiiepti 

 of Didus. 



RATIT^, that division of the Class AvES whose sternum 

 developing no " keel " resembles a raft or flat-bottomed boat (gratis), 

 and accordingly so named by Merrem {Ahhmull. Akcul. JFissensch. 

 Berlin, 1812-13, Physik. Kl. p. 259) in contradistinction to his 

 Carinat.^ (p. 76), though to it he admitted only the single 

 genus Struthio. The extraordinary neglect of this imj^ortant dis- 

 tinction is elsewhere dwelt upon (Introduction), and to Prof. 

 Huxley (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 418) is due the full recognition 

 of Merrem's merits. According to the views ^ adopted in this 

 volume the Subclass Itatifai comprehends of existing forms the 

 Orders Apteryges (Kiwi), Megisfanes (Cassowary, Emeu), PJiex 

 (Rhea) and Struthiones (Ostrich), together with the extinct 

 AiJpyornithes (Roc) and Immanes (Moa). As regards the relation of 

 other older forms to the Puititx it seems best at present to use 

 reserve (see Fossil Birds, Odontornithes and Stereornithes). 



RATTLE- WINGS, a fowlers' name for the Golden-eye (p. 

 369). 



RAVEN (Anglo-Saxon Hrmfn, Icelandic Hrafn, Danish Pia'nn, 

 Dutch Raaf, German Piahe), the largest of the Birds of the Order 

 Passeres, and probably the most highly developed of all Birds. 



Quick -sighted, sagacious and bold, it 

 must have followed the prehistoric 

 fisher and hunter, and generally with- 

 out molestation from them, to prey on 

 the refuse of their spoils, just as it 

 now Avaits, with the same intent, on 

 , . ^, ^ . ^ the movements of their successors ; 



Raven. (After Swamson.) .... ,., . , ' 



while It must have likewise attended 

 the earliest herdsmen, who could not have regarded it with equal 

 indifference, since its now notorious character for attacking and 

 putting to death a Aveakly animal was doubtless in those days 

 manifested. Yet the Raven is no mere dependent upon man, 

 being always able to get a living for itself ; and moreover a 

 sentiment of veneration or superstition has from very remote 

 ages and among many races of men attached to it — a sentiment 

 so strong as often to overcome the feeling of distrust not 

 to say of hatred which its deeds inspired, and, though raj^idly 

 decreasing, even to survive in some places until the j^resent time.^ 



' See Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, xx. i>p. 499, 500. 



- There is no need to dwell on the association of this bird with Avell-lcnown 

 characters of history sacred or profane — Noah or Elijah, Odin or Flokki, the 

 last of whom by its means discovered Iceland. The Raven is even said to have 



