THE RAVEN. 63 



as completely to deceive the inexperienced ; and thus, by 

 enticing him to pursue her, she insures the safety of her 

 nest. This "pious fraud" is continued only till she has 

 drawn him away to some distance, when she mounts into 

 the " liquid air," and is soon out of sight. 



Members of the Corvidse, or Crow tribe, are found in 

 every part of the globe, except the Polar Regions, where 

 they would fail to meet with a sufficient supply of food for 

 their omnivorous appetites. The Raven, however, that 

 bird of ill omen, ranges as far north as Melville Island ; 

 and Sir James Ross does honour to him as one of the few 

 birds which brave the inclemency of an Arctic winter. In 

 the most intense cold he frequents the bare and dreary 

 lands, following up the track of the wandering herds of 

 cariboos, musk-oxen, and bisons, and eagerly banqueting 

 on the remains of those which perish through accident, or 

 are slaughtered by birds of prey. 



Audubon speaks of him as in some degree a migratory 

 bird,— individuals retiring to the far south during rigorous 

 winters, but returning to the central, the western, and the 

 northern states at the first signs of more genial weather. 

 His habits are so well known as not to need description ; 

 while few of our readers but will have seen this stately, 

 sombre bird, and will be familiar with his deep hoarse 

 voice, his broad gloomy wings, and his dark shining plumage. 



" The tliievish Pie in twofold colours clad 

 Roofs o'er her canvas nest with fern-wreathed twigs, 

 And sidelong forms her curious door : she dreads 

 The taloned kite or pouncing hawk ; savage 

 Herself— with craft, suspicion ever dwells." 



