68 CORVID^E. 



along the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In 

 the Alpine countries of central Europe, it inhabits the 

 wooded mountains during summer, and sheltered valleys in 

 winter. It inhabits Corfu, Sicily, and Crete. 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 ; Mr. Blyth has found it near Calcutta, 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 

 Greenland. The Raven was seen by Captain Sir Edward 

 Parry and his parties, and by our other Arctic travellers, 

 on most, if not upon all the various expeditions to high 

 northern latitudes. Several pairs were seen at Melville 

 Island ; the individuals which were killed differed in no 

 respect from European 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 ob- 

 served to have a white ring round their neck, caused by 

 the accumulated encrustations of the vapour of their own 

 breath, and giving them a very singular appearance. Win- 

 ter produced no effect on their plumage. Sir 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 braving 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. Sir John Richard- 



