130 PASSERES. CORVID.E. 



lable, seeming to proceed from a collapsing of the 

 throat after its distension in pronouncing the first. 

 With this cry he very frequently intermixes an 

 other, something like clung , uttered very much as 

 by a human voice, only a little wilder in the 

 sound. The Ravens are excited to these cries 

 when the shepherd or his dog seems likely to 

 discover a carcase on which they have been rioting 

 and feasting. 



" In Ravens the senses of sight and smell are 

 remarkably acute and powerful. Perched usually 

 on some tall cliff that commands a wide survey, 

 these faculties are in constant and rapid exercise, 

 and all the movements of the bird are regulated 

 in accordance with the information thus procured. 

 The smell of death is so grateful to them that 

 they utter a loud croak of satisfaction instantly 

 on perceiving it. In passing over sheep, if a 

 tainted smell is perceptible, they cry vehemently. 

 From this propensity in the Raven to announce 

 his satisfaction in the smell of death, has pro- 

 bably arisen the common notion that he is aware 

 of its approach among the human race, and fore- 

 tells it by his croakings. I have no doubt the 

 idea is founded in truth, although I think the 

 coming event is not communicated to the Raven 

 by an immediate or supernatural impulse, but that 

 in passing over a human habitation from which a 

 sickly or cadaverous smell may escape, it is per- 

 fectly natural for him to announce his perception 

 of it by his cries. 



" The Raven lives at perpetual variance with 

 all the other feathered tribes. Even those species 

 which are far his superiors he annoys incessantly 

 with his attacks, especially when loaded with 



