4G THE RAVEN. 



should be universally diffused, is nothing wonderful; and ac- 

 cordingly, we find the raven an inhabitant of every region of the 

 globe. The sagacity of this bird is equal to his strength and 

 vigour ; and when tamed, he is capable of receiving instruction 

 in a wonderful manner, and of performing things almost incred- 

 ible. He may be trained to fowling like a hawk, taught to fetch 

 and carry like a dog, to speak like a parrot, and, what is still 

 more extraordinary, to imitate any vocal music. A modern 

 author of great repute says, he has heard a raven sing a song 

 with great distinctness, truth, and humour. 



The raven, when entertained as a domestic, has indeed many 

 amusing qualities. Being inquisitive and impudent, he visits 

 every corner, affronts the dogs, drives the cats from one place 

 to another, plays his pranks among the poultry, teazes every 

 animal around him, and is a constant attendant on the cook- 

 maid. She indeed is his principal favourite, and to her his at- 

 tachment is unalterable ; although he does not hesitate to incur 

 her displeasure, by snatching from her a delicate morsel. When 

 wild, the raven is a voracious plunderer ; when domesticated, he 

 is by nature a glutton, and by habit a thief; he purloins every 

 thing to gratify his appetite, and even hoards what he cannot 

 convert to any use ; for tea-spoons, rings, and pieces of money, 

 are often found in his secret treasury. 



The longevity of the raven is equal to that of any of the 

 feathered race, or perhaps of any other animal ; for birds are in 

 general supposed to live longer than quadrupeds : the raven has 

 been known to live more than a hundred years; and, indeed, as 

 it is endowed with a robust constitution, a good appetite, and 

 great activity, it seems to possess all the qualities conducive to 

 long life. 



From the remotest antiquity, a number of superstitious notions 

 respecting this bird have prevailed, which, notwithstanding the 

 general improvement of the human mind and the diffusion of 

 knowledge, are yet to be found among the ignorant populace of 

 most countries. Some suppose that the respect paid to it in 

 Sweden, where it is held sacred, and no one offers to molest it, 

 is founded on the circumstance of its being selected for the pur- 

 pose of feeding the prophet Elijah. 



The Romans, however, who paid no regard to our scriptures, 

 had also their prejudices in regard to the raven, as they ac- 

 counted it ominous, and merely from motives of fear held it in 

 the greatest venerr.tion. The origin of these absurdities 13 

 wholly unknown ; for it is impossible to trace the progress of 

 superstition, and the eccentricities of its operations on weak and 

 uncultivated minds. 



Of the carrion crow and the rook we shall sav but little, as they 



