66 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



Sometimes we had Eavens amongst our feathered 

 pets, once a piebald of this species from the Faroe 

 Islands, where that variety is not uncommon. The 

 Eaven, like his congener the Hooded crow, is by nature 

 a thief. Indeed, thievish proclivities may be said to 

 be a conspicuous characteristic of the whole genus, as 

 the Magpie, Jay, Eook, Jackdaw. No other class of 

 birds, or beasts either, with which I am acquainted 

 shows the same complete obliquity of moral sense. 

 They steal not merely to satisfy the cravings of 

 hunger — that one can understand and even condone 

 — but apparently for the pleasure of the thing. It is 

 clear they can make no use of needles and pins, knives 

 and forks, brushes and combs, rings and other trinkets ; 

 but just you let them have the chance, and everytliing 

 of this sort they will carry off and hide carefully, as a 

 dog hides a bone. It is not with them a case of steal- 

 ing in order to live, but living in order to steal ; and 

 I have no doubt their community always holds in 

 highest esteem, and raises to the highest rank in their 

 republic, him that is the most adroit and successful 

 thief. 



The Eaven is as easily tamed as the Hooded crow ; 

 but he does not make so interesting and amusing a pet, 

 being rather of a sulky and solitary disposition. In 

 his wild state, he is excessively suspicious and wary, 

 and he needs to be, for no mercy is ever shown him. 

 He is a terrible robber of the poultry-yard, destroys 

 great numbers of young lambs, and will never hesitate, 

 if he gets the chance, to attack a weak or sickly pony. 



