392 HABITS OF THE RAVEN. 



The ship's dog, however, looked upon them as his especial perquisites, and exhibited 

 considerable energy in maintaining his rights against the Ravens, who nevertheless out- 

 witted him in a way which amused every one. Observing that he appeared quite 

 willing to make a mouthful of their own sable persons, they used to throw themselves 

 intentionally in his way just as the mess-tins were being cleared out on the dust heap 

 outside the ship. The dog would immediately run at them, and they would just fly a few 

 yards ; the dog then made another run, and again they would appear to escape him but 

 by an inch, and so on, until they had tempted and provoked him to the shore a con- 

 siderable distance off. Then the Ravens would make a direct flight for the ship, and had 

 generally done good execution before the mortified-looking dog detected the imposition 

 that had been practised upon him, and rushed back again." 



Not long ago, I saw a Raven in one of the great London breweries, holding a large 

 sausage in his beak, and flapping about the yard just in front of one of the draymen, to 

 whom the stolen dainty had evidently belonged. The bird would not trouble itself to 

 make its escape, but in the most provoking manner hopped along just a yard or so before 

 its pursuer, and from all appearance as likely to carry on the same game for an hour or 

 two ; for while I was sitting, the relative positions of the parties did not alter in the 

 least. If the man stopped, the bird stopped too, and began to make such evident 

 preparations for swallowing the sausage that the drayman rushed at it again, and again 

 the bird would just flap a yard or two in advance. 



In captivity the Raven is a most amusing, although a terribly mischievous creature, 

 and displays a talent for the invention of mischief which can only be equalled by its 

 rapidity of execution and audacity of demeanour. Except when placed in an inclosed 

 yard where there is nothing that is capable of damage, a single Raven will get through 

 more mischief in one hour than a posse of boys in twelve, and as he always seems to 

 imagine himself engaged in the performance of some extremely exemplary duty, and 

 works his wicked will as methodically as if he had been regularly trained to the task and 

 very well paid for it, he excites no small amount of rage on the part of the aggrieved 

 person. I have personally known several tame Ravens, but as I have already recorded 

 their performances elsewhere, I shall not here repeat the story of their ill deeds. 



The Raven is an excellent linguist, acquiring the art of conversation with wonderful 

 rapidity, and retaining with a singularly powerful memory many sounds which it has once 

 learned. Whole sentences are acquired by this strange bird, and repeated with great 

 accuracy of intonation, the voice being a good imitation of human speech, but always 

 sounding as if spoken from behind a thick woollen wrapper. So remarkable is the cunning 

 of this bird, and so weird-like its aspect, that the ancient Scandinavians had good cause 

 for the trembling respect which they paid to the sullen " Bird of Odin." Their idea of the 

 Raven was, that it was accustomed to watch for Odin's return every evening, and, perched 

 upon his shoulder, to relate all the incidents that had taken place on earth within 

 its ken. 



As the bird is so crafty, its capture would seem to be a very difficult business, and tbo 

 number of tame Ravens now existing in England seems to be almost remarkable. The fact 

 is, that while still unfledged the young Ravens have a strange habit of falling out of their 

 nests, and flapping their wings heavily to the ground. Next morning they are found by the 

 shepherds, sitting croaking on the ground beneath their former homes, and are then captured 

 and taken away with comparative ease. Even in this case, however, to secure one of the 

 young Ravens is no slight task, for, on seeing that escape is impossible, it turns boldly to 

 bay, and makes such fierce attacks with its powerful beak that it must be enveloped in a 

 cloth or a plaid before it can safely be held. It is remarkable that when a Raven makes 

 its assault it does not merely peck with its beak, but flings its whole weight upon the blow. 



The Raven is also celebrated for its longevity, many instances being known where it 

 has attained the age of seventy or eighty years, without losing one jot of its activity, 01 

 the fading of one spark from its eyes. What may be the duration of a Raven's life in its 

 wild state is quite unknown. 



The colour of the Raven is a uniform blue-black, with green reflections in certain lightb, 

 The female is always larger than her mate. 



