ius 



VERTEBRATA, 



plan Seas, visits our Indian motropolis of Calcutta, forces its way over the guarded shores of Ja- 

 pan, dwells among our busy descendants of America, ranges from Mount Etna to the Iceland cold 

 of Ileela, and braves the rigor of the arctic regions as far as Melville's Island." Captain Ross 

 speaks of it as "one of the few binls capable of braving the severity of au arctic winter;" and 

 !>r. Kicliardson says that "it frequents the Barren Grounds of the most intense winter cold, its 

 movements being directed in a great measure by those of the herds of reindeer, musk-oxen, and 

 bisons, which it follows, ready to assist in devouring such as are killed by beasts of prey or by 

 accident. No sooner has a hunter slaughtered an animal than these birds are seen coming from 

 various quarters to feast on the ofial ; and considerable numbers constantly attend the fishing sta 

 lions, where they show equal boldness and rapacity." The raven is rarely seen in the Eastern 

 States, but is common in the West, and especially in the vicinity of Niagara, and thence north- 

 ward to the Fur Countries. 



TUE CARIUON-CUOW OF EUKOPE. 



The Carrion-Crow of Europe, C. Coronc — CorncUle Noire of the French — in England passes 

 under the various names of Flcsh-Croio, Gor-Crow, Black Crow, Corhj-Crow, and Hoody. It is 

 eighteen inches long, its plumage black and highly glossed, with purple reflections above and 

 green beneath. It is naturally intelligent, and living in the vicinity of man becomes exceedingly 

 wary ; it readily distinguishes between a man Avith a gnu in his hand, and from whom it flies 

 in fear and terror, and a man on horseback, whom it permits to approach more nearly without 

 signs of alarm. It inhabits at all seasons Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, and Italy. 

 Temminck says it is a native of Japan. It lives in pairs all the year, and seldom more 

 than two are found together, unless at a feast of carrion. Its partiality to animal food, even 

 though it be in a putrid state, has given it several of its popular names. It attacks lambs and 

 small quadrupeds, as well as young birds; it also eats shell-fish on the sea-shore. In default 

 of meat it eats grain, potatoes, and has been known to feed on green walnuts. It is an early 

 breeder, and commences building its nest in February. The female lays four or five eggs of a 

 pale bluish-green, spotted and speckled with two shades of ash-color and clove-brown. Its voice 

 is harsh, but in captivity it becomes tame and familiar, and shows a great deal of amusing cun- 

 ning. The following ballad is descriptive of some of the more remarkable characteristics of this 

 bird : 



" The Carrion Crow is a sexton bold, 

 He raketh the dead from out the mould ; 

 He delveth the ground like a miser old, 

 Stealthily hiding his store of gold. 



Caw t caw! 



