THE RAVEN. 185 



One often wonders where lie can come from ; for you may 

 walk the wild for hours without stirring a wing, more espe- 

 cially a black one; but if you lie down, especially if you lie 

 on your back, the raven will be close upon you in a moment, 

 examining if you are ready for him. He appears to know 

 instinctively that the position of the lifeless or helpless body 

 is on the back, with the eyes exposed to the punch of his bill, 

 and therefore he comes more readily and resolutely upon the 

 body in that position than in any other. 



It may be that the position which the dead body assumes, 

 generally on the back (on the side in quadrupeds), and always 

 with the eyes open and exposed, is partly assumed to accom- 

 modate the raven ; for it is a law of nature to reclaim to 

 other use the materials of everything after it has ceased to 

 be useful itself ; and in those countries where there are no 

 vultures the raven is the consumer-general of those carcases 

 which would poison the air of the wild. 



To lie down on your back, and lie still for some time, on an 

 exposed part of the hill, is the best way to see and watch the 

 motions of the raven, or to shoot him, if you are so armed 

 and inclined. He is shy of man and of all large animals in 

 motion; 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. If you are 

 even sitting in any posture that indicates life he will not 

 alight near you, though he may reconnoitre you on the wing. 

 But if you lie on your back, he will come you know not 

 whence, and, 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 echellon fashion, 

 bringing his shoulders forward alternately after a few hops 

 on each line of the zig-zag. 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. If you allow 



