222 



CHAPTER IX. 



RAVENS OCCASIONALLY DESERT THEIR YOUNG. PREDACIOUS 



HABITS. SAGACITY. VARIOUS ANECDOTES. CROWS AND 



ROOKS CHARACTERS OF EACH. TAME CROW. MEETINGS, 

 OR COUNCILS OF CROWS, HERONS, MAGPIES, ETC. WHETHER 



ROOKS ARE BENEFICIAL OR -INJURIOUS TO THE FARMER. 



HARD WINTERS FAVOURABLE TO INSECTS. ROOKERIES. 



RED-LEGGED CROW. JACKDAWS. JAYS AND MAGPIES. 



To a superficial observer of nature, there may 

 appear a much greater resemblance and connexion 

 between the Raven, the Crow, the Rook, and Jack- 

 daw, than we find from experience to be the case. 

 At the same time, so different in outward appear- 

 ance are the Jay and Magpie, that it may appeal- 

 contrary to all rule to class them together under one 

 head but while there is a decided mark of separa- 

 tion between each, and all of them in many respects, 

 they nevertheless are by naturalists included in the 

 first section of what is called the genus or family of 

 Crows. The Raven, however, from his size and 

 character, naturally takes the lead. Go where we 

 will over the face of the wide world, and the well- 

 known hoarse croak of the Raven is still to be 

 heard. He was seen perched on the bare rocks, 

 looking over the dreary snows of the highest points 

 visited in the Arctic Expeditions. Under the 

 burning sun of the Equator, he enjoys his feast of 

 carrion. He was discovered in the islands of the 

 Pacific Ocean by Captain Cook; and in the lowest 

 southern, or antarctic regions, other travellers have 



