Raven. 219 



its voracious plundering habits, for it not only feeds on carrion, 

 but attacks weak and sickly animals and birds. Professor 

 Skeat, however, derives it from its cry, and says that krap, 

 ' to make a noise,' is the origin of ' raven,' ' crow/ ' croak/ etc. 

 As to the derivation of the scientific names of the several 

 species which compose this family, they seem to come generally 

 from the same root ; for the B.O.U. Committee, under the several 

 heads of Corvus, Cor ax, Cor one, Cor nix, refers the reader to 

 xptofy, ' I caw/ and xpafy, ' I cry/ as the real origin. From the 

 same root appear to be derived most, if not all, of the Continental 

 names for this bird, as in France, Le Corbeau ; in Germany, 

 Kolkrabe ; in Italy, Corvo imperiale, as if ' the king of Crows ;' in 

 Sweden, Korp ; in Spain, Cuervo ; and in Portugal, Corvo. 



Ravens will sometimes, as they fly, turn over on their backs, 

 with a loud croak, and seem to be falling to the ground; but 

 Harding points out that when this odd gesture occurs, they are 

 merely scratching themselves with one foot, and thus lose the 

 centre of gravity.* 



It is supposed to live to a very great age, but this does not 

 seem to have ever been satisfactorily proved ; it pairs for life, and 

 breeds very early in the year, returning, if undisturbed, annually 

 to the same spot for the purpose : but it always drives away the 

 young birds when they are fully fledged and able to provide for 

 themselves. Montagu observes that between this bird and its 

 egg there is a greater disproportion than in any other species, 

 for it takes nearly fifty eggs to make up the weight of the bird. 



Extremely wary and impatient of molestation, it has been ex- 

 pelled from many of its old accustomed breeding-places by the 

 persecution of gamekeepers and others ; and this persecution is 

 not only of modern date, but was in force in the last century, for 

 when the Government auditors of parochial highway accounts 

 examined the books of a certain parish, they found amongst the 

 more common items of so much for the killing of a fox, and so 

 much for the killing of sparrows per dozens, old and young, the 

 following entry, ' Resolved at a vestry, that for a Raven, on the 

 * Edition of 'White's Selborne,' p. 254. 



