766 RATITE—RAVEN 
of Columba; (4) Crypturi of Crypturus (= Tinamus) ; and (5) Inepta 
of Didus. 
RATIT4, that division of the Class AVES whose sternum 
developing no “keel” resembles a raft or flat-bottomed boat (raézs), 
and accordingly so named by Merrem (Abhandl. Akad. Wissensch. 
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 important 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 meyits. According to the views! adopted in this 
volume the Subclass Ratite comprehends of existing forms the 
Orders Apteryges (Kiwt), Megistanes (CASSowARY, EMEU), Rhex 
(RHEA) and Sfruthiones (OSTRICH), together with the extinct 
Aipyornithes (Roc) and Immanes (Moa). As regards the relation of 
other older forms to the fatitz it seems best at present to use 
reserve (see FossiL Brrps, ODONTORNITHES and STEREORNITHES). 
RATTLE-WINGS, a fowlers’ name for the GOLDEN-EYE (p. 
369). 
RAVEN (Anglo-Saxon Hrexfn, Icelandic Hrafn, Danish Ravn, 
Dutch Raaf, German Labe), 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 waits, with the same intent, on 
the movements of their successors ; 
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 weakly 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 rapidly 
decreasing, even to survive in some places until the present time.” 
Raven. (After Swainson.) 
See Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, xx. pp. 499, 500. 
There is no need to dwell on the association of this bird with well-known 
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 
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