Ravens 



775 



a number of more or less well marked geographic races, North America, for 

 instance, laying claim to three such forms. But wherever found, whether in 

 the burning deserts of the south or in the ice-bound north, it is to all intents 

 and purposes the same, and is, according to Newton, "probably the most highly 

 developed of all birds. Quick-sighted, sagacious, and bold, it must have followed 

 the prehistoric fisher and hunter, and generally without molestation from them, 

 to prey on the refuse of their spoils, just as it now waits, with the same interest, 

 on the movements of their successors; while it must have likewise attended the 

 earliest herdsmen, who could not have regarded it with equal indifference, since 

 its now notorious character for attacking and putting to death a weakly animal 

 was doubtless in those days manifested. Yet the Raven is no mere dependent 

 on man, being able to get a living for itself; and, moreover, a sentiment of ven- 

 eration or superstition has from very remote ages and among many races of men 

 attached to it a sentiment so strong as often to overcome the feeling of dis- 

 trust, not to say hatred, which its deeds inspired, and though rapidly decreasing, 

 even to survive in some places until the present time." 



The typical form (C. cor ax) is found in Europe and northern Asia, and is 

 approximately twenty-six inches in length, with a spread of wings of over three 

 feet; the plumage is deep black, richly glossed, especially above, with steel-blue 

 and purple. In most localities, where it was once fairly abundant, it is now 

 extremely rare if not indeed already extirpated. For instance, it was once 

 reasonably common throughout the British Islands, but it is now practically 

 confined to a few strongholds along the northern coasts of Scotland and the 

 neighboring islands, and has, perforce, become extremely wary and cautious. 

 It frequents rocky localities and open country in preference to woodland, and 

 solitary or in pairs, for they mate for life, may be seen in strong, not ungraceful 

 flight, or heard uttering its deep, hoarse croak. It feeds on a great variety of 

 things, such as grubs, worms, insects, grain, fruit, eggs, and nestlings, but is 

 especially fond of carrion or fish cast up on the shores. It breeds early, gener- 

 ally in February or March, building a bulky nest of sticks, twigs, roots, etc., 

 lined with wool and grass, placing it in a tree or more commonly on a ledge of 

 rock on a cliff, and if unmolested making use of the same nest for several years. 

 The eggs, four to six or exceptionally eight, are bluish green, spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown. 



American Ravens. Of the two continental American races the larger, 

 called the Northern Raven (C. c. principalis), inhabits mainly the Arctic and 

 boreal provinces of North America, while the other decidedly smaller Mexican 

 Raven (C. c. sinuatus) occurs throughout the western United States and south- 

 ward through Mexico to the highlands of Honduras. The latter race is perhaps 

 best known, being distributed over a vast area and usually resident where found, 

 though sometimes wandering considerably in winter in search of food. The late 

 Major Bendire, who enjoyed exceptional advantages for observing them, gives 

 the Ravens a rather better character than its European congener appears to 

 enjoy, stating that he has never observed them troubling young lambs or other 

 domestic animals, and has frequently seen them feeding among his poultry on 



