RAVEN, CROW, ROOK, JACKDAW. 223 



RAVEN, CROW, ROOK, JACKDAW. 



THE above quartet of Ethiopian comedians is known in both the New and Old 

 Worlds. Their mischievous pranks and sagacious tricks entitle them to the leading 

 places in the line of birds whose acts are amusing. They are all naturally very 

 tame, and seem to delight to be near the habitation of man. Their thieving propen- 

 sities are known to everybody who has been unfortunate enough to give them the 

 opportunity to steal. They seemingly know the difference between gold and brass, 

 and, like all clever rascals, give the preference to the former. There are, no doubt, 

 more amusing and almost impossible stories related of these four birds than any 

 other four in the bird-calendar. 



They are not the proper birds to place in an aviary, because of the numerous 

 chances it would afford them of hiding the smaller birds in uudiscoverable places. 

 They are often caged when young with a view of teaching them to speak, which is 

 sometimes successful. 



The Raven, of all birds, is most widely distributed over the surface of the 

 globe. He measures two feet in length, of which the tail measures about nine 

 inches. The whole bird is a deep black color, the upper part being tinged with 

 purple, the lower part and tail with green. The beak is high, round, and shaped 

 like a dagger. The tongue is very broad, which accounts for the ease with which 

 he learns to speak. Some persons in Europe cut the string of the tongue, with 

 a view to facilitate the utterance of sounds ; although I think the operation entirely 

 unnecessary, and nothing more than an ancient, useless custom. 



The Raven builds his nest in the highest trees of a wooded country, almost 

 inaccessible to the hands of the egg-stealing youngster. The young, in order to be 

 tamed, should be taken from the nest when about fifteen days old ; and as they will 

 eat almost any thing in the shape of meat, fish, or scraps from the table, the diffi- 

 culty of raising them is slight. In Germany they are favorite birds with innkeepers, 

 who conceal them in cages where they may be heard ; and it is sometimes amusing to 

 witness the amount of fun one will cause by calling a stray guest a thief, or some 

 other favorite pet name. When allowed to roam at liberty, which is the proper way 

 to keep one, he will become strongly attached to his master, following him around 

 like a pet dog, hopping along to him when called, and always remembering his 

 own name. He is a very dignified-looking fellow, although he cannot conceal his 

 roguish eye ; and his quiet way and sedate walk are no evidences of his true charac- 

 ter. He seems to delight in mischief-making, the same as a boy, and merely does it 

 out of pure love for it. He will make chums with the cat or dog, always to their 

 sorrow. If Mr. Raven is around, a nap for the cat is out of the question, even if 



