66 



CORVIDF.. 



mountains during summer, and sheltered valleys in winter. 

 In Egypt the Raven, like the Vulture, is not molested; its 

 services in removing offal or putrid flesh being considered 

 useful. It is found over the countries between the Black 

 and the Caspian Seas; and M. Temminck includes it among 

 the Birds of Japan. 



Northward in Europe it is found over Scandinavia and on 

 the Faroe Islands ; it is found also at Iceland and at Green- 

 land. The Raven was seen by Captain Sir John Parry and 

 his parties, and by our other Arctic travellers, on most, if 

 not upon all the various expeditions to high northern lati- 

 tudes. Several pairs were seen at Melville Island ; the indi- 

 viduals which were killed, differed in no respect from Euro- 

 pean specimens. In the Natural History Appendix to the 

 Second Voyage, it is stated that the Ravens rob the hunters' 

 traps, and are sometimes caught themselves. Scent offal at 

 a great distance. Pair in March. In the Appendix to the 

 Third Voyage : — Ravens seen at Port Bowen and the most 

 northern parts visited by the Expeditions. During the 

 winter they were frequently observed to have a white ring 

 round their neck, caused by the accumulated encrustrations 

 of the vapour of their own breath,' and giving them a very 

 singular appearance. Winter produced no effect on their 

 plumage. Captain James Ross, in the Appendix written by 

 him to the account of his uncle''s last northern voyage, says, 

 " The Raven is one of the few birds that are capable of brav- 

 ing the severity of an Arctic winter." One poor Raven that 

 had lost a leg either by frost or a trap, visited the ship daily, 

 and his crippled state exciting commiseration, he seldom 

 failed to obtain something in the way of food. Dr. Richard- 

 son says of the Raven, " This well-known bird abounds in 

 the fur-countries of North America, and visits the remotest 

 islands of the Polar Seas. It frequents the barren grounds 

 even in the most intense winter colds, its movements being 



