138 THE RAVEN. 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The Raven. 



Corvus corax. 



" THIS bird," says Cuvier, " is the largest of 

 the Passerine Order found in Europe, being as 

 big as a cock : its plumage is entirely black, the 

 tail round, the back of the upper mandible 

 arched forward. It lives more retired than the 

 other species, flies well and high, scents carcases 

 at the distance of a league, and feeds, moreover, 

 on all sorts of fruit and small animals. It will 

 even carry off the tenants of the poultry-yard. 

 It builds singly on high trees and sharp rocks. 

 Its flight is easy and elevated. It seems to be 

 found in all parts of the world." 



To this sketch we may add, that the ravens 

 are a fearless race, defending themselves suc- 

 cessfully from the attacks of cats and dogs, and 

 even rendering themselves formidable to men, 

 whose legs they will peck at with so much fury, 

 as to inflict very considerable wounds. 



They are said to be greatly attached to each 



