188 RAVENS. 



he saw his comrade at the further end of the cage ; he then 

 flew down, hurled one of the pieces, which he carefully covered 

 with gravel, and jumping hack to his perch with the other 

 piece, devoured it. He then hopped down for the other piece, 

 and regaining his perch a second time, consumed that, much 

 to the annoyance of his companion, whom he thus artfully 

 and cleverly contrived to outwit. 



No wonder that so knowing a hird, gifted, at the same 

 time, with a voice so deep and solemn as to command atten- 

 tion whenever it is heard, should, in all ages, have impressed 

 superstitious people with a notion that it had something un- 

 earthly in its nature ; and in heathen countries especially, 

 should have heen respected by the ignorant as interpreters of 

 the will of their idol gods. Thus, in the remotest periods of 

 antiquity, the Eaven was consecrated to Apollo, one of their 

 chief deities, and by the priests and people was therefore con- 

 sidered as a foreteller of good or evil. Through a long course 

 of centuries it has borne the same character, and even to this 

 day there are not a few who believe that 



" Ravens give the note of death, 



As through mid-air they wing their way." 



It is most probable that their supposed prophetic powers, 

 respecting battles and bloodshed, originated in their very 

 frequent presence on these occasions, drawn to the field of 

 slaughter by an attractive banquet of unburied bodies of the 

 slain. Hence, poets have described it as possessing a 

 mysterious knowledge of these things. 



" Ill-omen' d bird ! as legends say, 



Thou hast the wondrous power to know, 

 While health fills high the throbbing veins, 

 The fated hour when blood must flow. " 



The Icelanders, notwithstanding their endeavours to 

 destroy as as many as they can, yet give them credit for the 

 gift of prophecy, and have a high opinion of them as sooth- 

 sayers. And the priests of the North American Indians 



