BIRDS. lj.'i 



and impudent, he goes every where ; affronts and drives off the 

 dogs, plays his pranks on the ponltry, and is particnhirly assidu- 

 ous in cultivating the good will ot the cook-maid, w ho seems to 

 be the favourite of the family. But then, with the amusing 

 qualities of a favourite, he often also has the vices and defects. 

 He is a glutton by nature, and a thief by habit. He does not 

 confine himself to petty depredations on the pantry or the lar- 

 der ; he soars at more magnificent plunder ; at spoils that he 

 can neither exhibit nor enjoy ; but which, like a miser, he rests 

 satisfied with having the satisfaction of sometimes visiting and 

 contemplating in secret. A piece of money, a tea-spoon, or a 

 ring, are always tempting baits to his avarice ; these he will slily 

 seize upon, and, if not watched, will carry to his favourite hole. 

 In his wild state, the raven is an active and greedy plunderer. 

 Nothing comes amiss to him ; whether his prey be living or long 

 dead it is all the same, he falls to with a voracious ajjpetite ; and, 

 when he has gorged himself, flies to acquaint his fellows, that 

 they may participate of the spoil. If the carcase be already in 

 the possession of some more powerful animal, a wolf a fox, or a 

 dogjthe raven sits at a little distance, content to continue an humble 

 spectator till they have done. If in his flights he perceives no 

 hopes of carrion, and his scent is so exquisite that he can smell it 

 at a vast distance, he then contents himself with more unsavoury 

 food, fruits, insects, and the accidental dessert of a dunghill. 



This bird chiefly builds its nests in trees, and lays five or six 

 eggs of a pale green colour, marked with small brownish spots. 

 They live sometimes in pairs, and sometimes they frequent, in 

 great numbers, the neighbourhood of populous cities, where they 

 are useful in devouring those carcases that would otherwise pu- 

 trefy and infect the air. They build in high trees or old towers, 

 in the beginning of March with us in England, and sometimes 

 sooner, as the spring is more or less advanced for the season. 

 But it is not always near towns that they fix their retreats ; they 

 often build m unfrequented places, and drive all other birds from 

 their vicinity. They will not permit even their young to keep 

 in the same district, but drive them off when tliey are sufficiently 

 nble to shift for themselves. Martin, in his description of the 

 Western Isles, avers, that there are three little islands among 

 •' the number, which are occupied by a pair of ravens each, that 

 di'ive off all other birds with great cries and impetuosity. 



