390 THE RAVEN. 



no tooth in the upper mandible, but may be distinguished from them by the greater 

 comparative length of the wings. 



THE first of these birds on our list is the celebrated RAVEN, our finest representative of 

 the family. 



This truly handsome bird is spread over almost all portions of the habitable globe, 

 finding a livelihood wherever there are wide expanses of uncultivated ground, ancf only 

 being driven from its home by the advance of cultivation and the consequent inhabitance 

 of the soil by human beings. It is a solitary bird, living in the wildest district that it can 

 find, and especially preferring those that are intersected with hills. In such localities the 

 Raven reigns supreme, hardly the eagle himself daring to contest the supremacy with so 

 powerful, crafty, and strong-beaked a bird. 



The food of the Raven is almost entirely of an animal nature, and there are few living 

 things which the Raven will not eat whenever it finds an opportunity of so doing. Worms, 

 grubs, caterpillars, and insects of all kinds are swallowed by hundreds, but the diet in 

 which the Raven most delights is dead carrion. In consequence of this taste, the Raven 

 may be found rather plentifully on the Scottish sheep-feeding grounds, where the flocks 

 are of such immense size that the bird is sure to find a sufficiency of food among the daily 

 dead ; for its wings are large and powerful, and its daily range of flight is so great, that 

 many thousands of sheep pass daily under its ken, and it is tolerably sure in the course of 

 the day to find at least one dead sheep or lamb. Sometimes the Raven accelerates 

 matters, for if it should foid an unfortunate sheep lying in a ditch, a misfortune to which 

 these animals are especially prone, it is sure to cause the speedy death of the poor creature 

 by repeated attacks upon its eyes. Weakly or ailing sheep are also favourite subjects with 

 the Raven, who soon puts an end to their sufferings by the strokes of his long and 

 powerful beak. Even the larger cattle are not free from the assaults of this voracious bird, 

 which performs in every case the office of a vulture. 



So strongly is the desire for attacking wounded or dying animals implanted in the 

 breast of the Raven, that, according to Mudie, the best method of attracting one of these 

 birds within gunshot is to lie on the back on some exposed part of a hill, with the gun 

 concealed and close at hand. It is needful to remain perfectly quiet, because if there is 

 the slightest sign of life the Raven will not approach, for, as Mudie rather quaintly 

 observes, " he is shy of man and of all large animals in nature ; because, though glad to 

 find others carrion, or to make carrion of them if he can do it with impunity, he takes 

 good care that none shall make carrion of him." It is equally needful to watch care- 

 fully and not to be overcome by sleep, as the first indication of the Raven's approach 

 would to a certainty be the loss of an eye. 



"But if you lie on your back," says Mudie, "he will come you know not whence, arcl 

 hovering round you on slow wing, examine you from all points. If you do not stir, he 

 will drop down at a little distance, and begin to hop in an 6chellon fashion, bringing his 

 shoulders forward alternately, after a few hops on each line of the zigzag. Sometimes he 

 will utter his ' cruck-cruck,' and pause to see if that makes you stir, and if it does not, he 

 will accelerate his advance." 



Sheep and cattle do not, however, form the whole of a Raven's diet, for besides the 

 insects which have already been mentioned, this bird eats mice, rabbits, birds of various 

 kinds, including young partridges and pheasants, and will invade the farmyard when 

 pressed by hunger, and carry off the young poultry. Even the hedgehog falls a victim 

 to the Raven, who cares nothing for his spiked armour, but drives his sharp bill through 

 the poor beast, tears away the prickly skin, and devours the carcase at his leisure. In 

 Northern America, and indeed in many other countries, the Raven is a regular attendant 

 on the hunters, and follows them for the purpose of feeding upon the offal of the 

 creatures which they kill. 



The tongue of the Raven is rather curiously formed, being broad, flat, covered with 

 a horny kind of shield, and deeply cleft at the extremity. At the root are four rather 

 large projections or spines, the points being directed backwards. The use of these 

 spines is not known, though Mr. Buckland suggests that they may be for the purpose of 



