THE RAVEN. 287 



THE TRUE CROWS. 



WE now arrive at the true Crows, which, like the preceding group, have no tooth in the 

 upper mandible, but may be distinguished from them by the greater comparative length of 

 the wings. 



THE first of these birds on our list is the celebrated RAVEN, our finest representative of 

 the family. 



This truly handsome bird is spread over almost all portions of the habitable globe, finding 

 a livelihood wherever there are wide expanses of uncultivated ground, and only being driven 

 from its home by the advance of cultivation and the consequent inhabitance of the soil by 

 human beings. It is a solitary bird, living in the wildest district that it can find, and especially 

 preferring those that are intersected with hills. In such localities the Raven reigns supreme, 

 hardly the eagle himself daring to contest the supremacy with so powerful, crafty, and strong- 

 beaked a bird. 



The food of the Raven is almost entirely of an animal nature, and there are few living 

 things which the Raven will not eat whenever it finds an opportunity of so doing. Worms, 

 grubs, caterpillars, and insects of all kinds are swallowed by hundreds, but the diet in which 

 the Raven most delights is dead carrion. In consequence of this taste, the Raven may be 

 found rather plentifully on the sheep-feeding grounds, where the flocks are of such immense 

 size that the bird is sure to find a sufficiency of food among the daily dead ; for its wings are 

 large and powerful, and its daily range of flight is so great, that many thousands of sheep pass 

 daily under its ken, and it is tolerably sure in the course of the day to find at least one dead 

 sheep or lamb. Sometimes the Raven accelerates matters, for if it should find an unfortunate 

 sheep lying in a ditch, a misfortune to which these animals are especially prone, it is sure to 

 cause the speedy death of the poor creature by repeated attacks upon its eyes. Weakly or 

 ailing sheep are also favorite subjects with the Raven, who soon puts an end to their sufferings 

 by the strokes of his long and powerful beak. Even the larger cattle are not free from the 

 assaults of this voracious bird, which performs in every case the office of a vulture. 



So strongly is the desire for attacking wounded or dying animals implanted in the breast 

 of the Raven, that, according to Mudie, the best method of attracting one of these birds within 

 gunshot is to lie on the back on some exposed part of a hill, with the gun concealed and close 

 at hand. It is needful to remain perfectly quiet, because if there is the slightest sign of life 

 the Raven will not approach, for, as Mudie rather quaintly observes, "he is shy of man and 

 of all large animals in nature ; because, though glad to find others carrion, or to make carrion 

 of them if he can do it with impunity, he takes good care that none shall make carrion of 

 him." It is equally needful to watch carefully and not to be overcome by sleep, as the first 

 indication of the Raven' s approach would to a certainty be the loss of an eye. 



"But if you lie on your back," says Mudie, "he will come you know not whence, and 

 hovering round you on slow wing, examine you from all points. If you do not stir, he will 

 drop down at a little distance, and begin to hop in an echellon fashion, bringing his shoulders 

 forward alternately, after a few hops on each line of the zigzag. Sometimes he will utter his 

 'cruck-cruck,' and pause to see if that makes you stir, and if it does not, he will accelerate 

 his advance." 



Sheep and cattle do not, however, form the whole of a Raven's diet, for besides the insects 

 which have already been mentioned, this bird eats mice, rabbits, birds of various kinds, includ- 

 ing young partridges and pheasants, and will invade the farm-yard when pressed by hunger, 

 and carry off the young poultry. Even the hedgehog falls a victim to the Raven, who cares 

 nothing for his spiked armor, but drives his sharp bill through the poor beast, tears away the 

 prickly skin, and devours the carcase at his leisure. In Northern America, and indeed in 

 many other countries, the Raven is a regular attendant on the hunters, and follows them for 

 the purpose of feeding upon the offal of the creatures which they kill. 



