182 HISTORY OF 



cess, killed the bird, and deprived the tailor of 

 his future hopes of fortune. The Romans, how- 

 ever, took the poor tailor's part ; they punished 

 the man who offered the injury, and gave the 

 raven all the honours of a magnificent inter- 

 ment. 



Birds in general live longer than quadrupeds, 

 and the raven is said to be one of the most long- 

 lived of the number. Hesiod asserts that a raven 

 will live nine times as long as a man ; but though 

 this is fabulous, it is certain that some of them 

 have been known to live near a hundred years. 

 This animal seems possessed of those qualities 

 that generally produce longevity, a good appetite, 

 and great exercise. In clear weather, the ravens 

 fly in pairs to a great height, making a deep loud 

 noise, different from that of their usual croak- 

 ing. 



The Carrion-crow resembles the raven in its 

 appetites, its laying, and manner of bringing up 

 its young. It only differs in being less bold, less 

 docile, and less favoured by mankind. 



The Rook leads the way in another but a more 

 harmless train, that have no carnivorous appe- 

 tites, but only feed upon insects and corn. The 

 Royston crow is about the size of the two former. 

 The breast, belly, back, and upper part of the 

 neck, being of a pale ash colour ; the head and 

 wings glossed over with a fine blue. He is a 

 bird of passage, visiting this kingdom in the be- 

 ginning of winter, and leaving it in tht spring. 

 He breeds, however, in different parts of the 

 British dominions, and his nest is common enough 



