LETTER XLV, 



"Hark ! 'tis the raren's dismal croalf, 



My boding breast is filled with fear ; 

 Yet once beneath that spreading oak, 



The bud of woe I smil'd to hear." 



WHS. ROBTNSOK. 



"Oft havf I lav'd to mark the rook's slow course, 

 And hear his hollow croak.' 1 



SOUTHlY, 

 DAER SIR, 



X SHALL now proceed to review a class of volatiles, 

 different from each of the former, but partaking in 

 some degree of the nature of both. 



THE PJE KIND 



is that race of birds which are generally considered 

 as the least beneficial to man. Few of them, except 

 the pigeon, contribute to furnish us with food, while 

 numbers make free with the fruits of our industry. 

 We cannot, however, see through the vast and com- 

 plicated plan of Divine wisdom, and perhaps we are 

 more indebted to this noisy, restless, chattering tribe 

 than we imagine, and derive from them benefits of 

 which we are ignorant. 



THE RAVEN, THE ROOK, AND THE CARRION CROW 



are so generally known that any description of them, 

 would be superfluous, and tend rather to obscure than 

 improve our ideas. The raven is the largest of ths 

 three, and is distinguished from both the others by 

 Jlis bill being more hooked. As for the rook and 'the 

 carrion crow, they so nearly resemble each other as 

 not to be easily discriminated. The rook often suf- 

 fers on that account, and is frequently destroyed in- 

 stead of the other, to Tvhich he is in size and coltftir, 

 so nearly similar. 



The raven is a strong, hardy* and active bird,, im- 

 influenced by any change of weather, and capable o|' 

 supporting the rigors of every climate, He ss not 

 by the sultry heats of th torrid zone, s^ 

 o 



