232 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



Latin. Moreover, they would study their Lessons all Day, 

 and continually come out with new Words formed into a long 

 Speech. To teach them, these Birds must be in a Place 

 apart, where they can hear no other Voice to mingle with 

 what they learn ; and one is to sit by them, who must repeat 

 often what he would have them fix in their Memory, and 

 please them also with giving them Meat. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

 The Understanding of Ravens (Conn). 



LET us not defraud the Ravens also of their due Praise, 

 as witnessed not only by the Knowledge but the Indignation 

 of the People of Rome. When Tiberius was Prince, there 

 was a young Raven hatched in a Nest upon the Temple of 

 Castor (and Pollux), which took his Flight into a Shoe- 

 maker's Shop overagaiiist the Temple, and thus was com- 

 mended to the Master of the Shop by the Obligation of 

 Religion. This Raven in Time became accustomed to Man's 

 Speech, and every Morning would fly to the Rostra, and 

 turning to the Forum, he would salute Tiberius, and after 

 him Germanicus and Drusus, the Ccesars, by their Names ; 

 and presently the People of Rome that passed by. And 

 when he had so done, he would fly again to the Warehouse. 

 This Practice he continued for several Years together, to the 

 Wonder of all. The Master of the nearest Shoemaker's 

 Shop, either through Envy of his Neighbour, or some sudden 

 fit of Anger (as he wished it to appear) because the Raven 

 had made a Spot upon a Pair of his Shoes with his Dung, 

 killed the Bird ; at which the People took such Indignation, 

 that they first drove him out of that Neighbourhood, and 

 not long after murdered him ; and the Funeral of the Raven 

 was solemnly performed with all the ceremonial Obsequies. 

 For the Bier was formed and bedecked, and so carried upon 

 the Shoulders of two Ethiopians, with a Piper going before, 

 with Crowns of all kinds, as far as to the funeral Fire ; 

 which was piled at the right Hand of the Appian Way, at 

 the secoHd Stone, in a Field called Rediculi, Thus the 



