RAVEN. 67 



directed in a great measure by those of the herds of rein-deer, 

 musk-oxen, and bisons, which it follows, ready to assist in 

 devouring such as are killed by beasts of prey, or by accident. 

 No sooner has a hunter slaughtered an animal, than these 

 birds are seen coming from various quarters to feast on the 

 ofFal ; and considerable numbers constantly attend the fishing 

 stations, where they show equal boldness and rapacity." 



In the United States, Mr. Audubon says, " The Raven is 

 in some degree a migratory bird, individuals retiring to the 

 extreme south during severe winters, but returning towards 

 the middle, the western, and northern districts at the first 

 indication of milder weather. A few are known to breed in 

 the mountainous portions of South Carolina, but instances of 

 this kind are rare, and are occasioned merely by the security 

 afforded by inaccessible precipices, in which they may rear 

 their young. 



Our Raven was formerly considered to be an inhabitant of 

 the southern hemisphere, and may exist in some localities ; 

 but the Raven of Mexico and the equatorial part of the 

 South American continent is a distinct bird larger than our 

 Raven, with a long and wedge-shaped tail. The Raven of 

 South Africa is also distinct from the European bird, is 

 smaller in size, with a more brilliant metallic lustre on its 

 plumage, and has been named in consequence Corvus splen- 

 dens. The Museum of the Zoological Society contains ex- 

 amples of both these species. 



The beak of our Raven is strong and black ; the feathers 

 covering the nostrils one inch and a half long, nearly half the 

 length of the beak ; the irides brown and grey : the whole 

 plumage black glossed with steel-blue, and purple ; the 

 feathers on the throat elongated and pointed, and exhibiting 

 more metallic lustre than those of other parts. Legs, toes, 

 and claws, shining black ; the legs and toes strong ; the claws 

 considerably curved. 



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