THE CROW. 97 



like a parrot, and even to sing with a tolerable voice. 

 But the cunning and vicious tricks which the Raven is 

 always in the habit of playing, often renders him a 

 very disagreeable animal. He is so voracious, as to 

 eat any thing that comes in his way, either raw or 

 cooked. He is also a thief by habit, and even when 

 he has enough, will continue to steal, and hide his 

 plunder. He is curious to know what is contained in 

 every nook and corner of the house : and particularly 

 if any thing is covered up, and carefully concealed, he 

 will continue to poke and pry, until, if possible, he 

 comes at -the secret. He torments the dogs and cats, 

 by bawling, and striking at them ; plays his tricks 

 upon the hens and chickens ; drives away every rook t 

 crow, or Raven, that comes near his habitation ; and 

 picks out the eyes of every sick sheep or lamb in the 

 barn yard. 



He is so in the habit of stealing, as to take things of 

 which he can make no sort of use. Any article that 

 has a shining surface, iS always a strong temptation to 

 him. A tea-spoon, a piece of money, a ring, or a knife, 

 are things on which he sets a particular value ; and he 

 never fails, when they come in his way, to carry them 

 to his favourite hiding place. 



A cook in a family missed many tea-spoons, one af- 

 ter another, but could not account for the loss. He 

 also missed several other articles, in a manner quite 

 mysterious, and unaccountable. The poor honest 

 cook might have been accused of .taking these things 

 himself, had he not one day caught a Raven that was 

 kept in the house in the act of stealing a tea-spoon. 

 He watched the bird, and saw him carry it away to 



