Ill 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



CHAPTER IT. 



The PIES and the CROWS The RAYEN Superstitions about 

 this bird Account of a Roman Raven Touching affec- 

 tion of a Raven for her young " Taff," the tame raven 

 The CROW and the ROOK Marked difference between 

 these two birds Enmity between them Anecdote illus- 

 trative of this Are Rooks friends or foes to the farmer ? 

 Description of a Rookery Anecdote of a colony of 

 these birds The Royston Crow The CHOUGH ^The 

 JACKDAW Character of this bird Curious account of 

 Jackdaws stealing the flower labels in the Botanic 

 Gardens at Cambridge. 



ANOTHER distinct family of the perching birds, 

 comprises the PIES, and the CROWS. The 

 raven, the hooded, and carrion crows, the rook 

 and the jackdaw, are names well known to us all ; 

 and included in the same tribe are the jay and the 

 magpie. 



The RAVEN, from his size and character, naturally 

 takes the lead. He is to be seen in most parts of 

 the world; and his ominous croak has got for 

 him a world-wide fame. In days of ignorance 

 and superstition, this sound was supposed to an- 

 nounce approaching calamity, and the changes of 

 his notes were carefully studied by the artful 



