330 THE RAVEN. 



of a similar colour to those of the others of the crow family 

 that is, greenish, with brown or grey spots. 



This bird, as known, is easily domesticated, and, whether 

 old or young, can readily be taught to speak. At the German 

 inns they are not infrequently kept to amuse the guests with 

 their prattle. Even in ancient times the raven was much 

 prized for its speaking power. During the reign of the 

 Emperor Tiberius, we read, a tame raven created a great 

 sensation in Rome, for that it in the morning was in the 

 habit of flying to the forum, where it saluted, first the 

 Emperor himself, afterwards the princes Germanicus and 

 Drusus, and lastly the Roman people. When at an after- 

 period the poor bird was killed by a shoemaker in revenge 

 for it having spoilt his work, the people not only gave it a 

 splendid burial, but put the delinquent to death. We further- 

 more read, that when the Emperor Augustus returned in 

 triumph to Rome after a victory, he was greeted by a raven 

 in the following words : Ave Csesar, Victor, Imperator ! 



Some curious notions are entertained in Scandinavia 

 respecting the raven. It is said, for instance, that besides 

 its usual hoarse croak, it at times, when soaring in circles 

 high in the air, has a peculiarly harmonious note, klong, 

 klong, klong. But as this is very rarely heard, the common 

 belief is, that it cannot give utterance to it until after passing 

 its hundredth year, to which advanced age it is supposed to 

 attain. 



Then again it has, they say, a certain white feather on 

 its body, which, if a man can get possession of, he will be 

 endowed with all wisdom ; but that it is a matter of 

 extreme difficulty to obtain this plume, as the bird, when 

 wounded, and in its dying agonies, always exerts its last 



