i THE NokTIIKkN K.W KNI. 



ALTIKJ nowhere al)iin<lant, in the sense wliicli obtains anvmg smaller 

 species, nor as widely distributed as sonie, there is prolxibly no otlier l)ird 

 wliich has attracted such universal attention, (jr has left so deep an impress 

 upon history and literature as the Raven. Primitive man has always felt the 

 spell of his sombre presence, and the Raven was as deeply iniliedded in the folk- 

 lore of the maritime Grecian trilies as he is trxlay in that of the Makahs and 

 Quillayutes uixm our own coast. Kora.v. the Greek called him, in imitation of 

 his hoarse cry, Knuulc. knuuh: while the Sanskrit name, Knnn'ii. reveals the 

 ancient root from which have sprung Ixith Crow .'lUd Raven. 



Quick-sighted, cunning, and audacious, this bird of sinister asi)ect has 

 been invested by |>et)ples of all ages with a mysterious and semi-sacred char- 

 acter. His ominous croakings were thought to have projjhetic import, while 

 his preternatural shrewdness has made him, with many, a symlxjl of divine 

 knowledge. We may not go such lengths, but we are justified in placing this 

 bird at the head of our list; and we must agree with Professor .\lfre<1 

 Newton that the Raven is "the largest of the Birds of the Order Passcres. 

 and prob.'d)ly the most highly developed of all Birds." 



The Raven is a bird of the wilderness; and. in spite of all his cuiuiing. 

 he fares but ill in the presence of breech-loaders and iconiKlasts. While 

 it has not Iwen the object of any sjjecial persecution in Washington, it seems 

 to share the fate reserved for all who lift their heads alx>ve the common 

 level; and it is now nearly confined in its local distribution to the 01ymi)ic 

 peninsula; and is nowhere common, save in the vicinity of the Indian villages 

 which still cling to our western slu)re. 



In appearance the Raven presents many points of difference from the 

 Common Crow, especially when contraste<l with the dwarf examples of the 

 northwestern race. It is not only larger, but its tail is relatively nuich longer, 

 an<l fullv rounded. The head. too. is fuller, and the bill i)ro]>^rtionately 

 stouter with more rounded culmen. The feathers of the neck are li^)sely 

 arranged, resulting in an impressive shagginess; and there is a sort of un- 

 couthncss about these ancient birds, as compared with the more dapix^r Crow. 



Ravens are unscrupuloiis in diet, and therefrom has arisen nnich of the 

 dislike which has attached to them. They not only subsist upon insects, 

 worms, frogs, .shellfish, and cast-up offal, but devour the eggs and young of 

 sea-birds; and. when pressed by hunger, do not scruple to attack rabbits, yovuig 

 Iambs, or .seal jnips. In fact, nothing fleshly and edible comes amiss to them. 

 In collecting along the sea-coast I once lost .som; sandpipers, — which I had 

 not had time to preivire the evening l)efore — liecau.se the dark watcher was 

 "up first". Like the Fish Crow, they hang about the Indian villages to some 



