38 THE RAVEN. 



which is black, in particular lights reflects a violet tint on the 

 upper, and green on the lower part of the body, of the wings 

 and tail. The throat is of a paler black. 



Of all the birds of this genus, distinguished by having the 

 beak in the form of a knife, and the base furnished with strong 

 bristles which extend forward, the raven, on account of the size 

 of its tongue, is the best fitted to articulate words ; hence, in 

 Thuringia, people are often saluted, on entering an inn, with 

 some abusive language from one of these ravens, confined near 

 the door, in a large cage like a tower. When it has been reared 

 from the nest (which must be done in order to teach it to speak) 

 it may be left at liberty ; it will come when called by name to 

 receive its food. Everything which shines must be put out of 

 its way, particularly gold and silver, as it does not fail to carry 

 it off, like the other birds of its kind. One, which was brought 

 before Augustus, had been taught to repeat, Ave Casar, victor, 

 imperator, in order to salute him on his return from victory. 



Some people are accustomed to cut what is called the nerve 

 of the tongue, supposing that it would make them better able 

 to articulate sounds ; but it seems most probable that this cruel 

 practice is of little use, and, like many others, only a vulgar 

 prejudice, for I have heard ravens speak perfectly well without 

 having the tongue touched. 



This bird was very much prized at a time when divination 

 made a part of religion. Its most minute actions, all the 

 motions of its flight, and the different sounds of its voice, were 

 carefully studied ; in the latter, people pretending to discover 

 even sixty-four different modulations, besides many shades still 

 more delicate and difficult to determine. This must certainly 

 have required an excessively fine ear, as its croaking is parti- 

 cularly simple. Every alteration, let it be ever so slight, had 

 its particular signification. Impostors were not wanting, who 

 pretended to understand, or dupes who easily believed, these 

 idle fancies. Some have carried their folly to such a pitch as 

 to persuade themselves that by eating the heart and entrails of 

 the raven they would acquire its gift of prophecy. 



HABITATION. This species only inhabits the -wooded parts of a country; 

 it there builds its nest on the highest trees. Its eggs, from three to five in 

 number, are of a dirty green, streaked with olive brown. If the young 

 ones be taken in order to instruct them, they must be removed on tha 



