The Raven 193 



In August, 1 91 6, while working about Malheur Lake in the deserts of 

 southeastern Oregon, we found Ravens much in evidence. During a day's 

 travel of perhaps 30 miles about the Lake, I saw at least a dozen individuals. 

 Usually only one or two would be seen at a time. One that kept in front of 

 us for some distance, alighting at intervals on the posts of a barbed- wire fence 

 carried an object in its beak at which it would peck and pull whenever it 

 perched. Once, just as it took wing, my companion fired a shot from his re- 

 volver, with a view of startling the bird and causing it to drop its prey. The 

 experiment succeeded, and, picking up the object, we found it to be a section 

 of a rabbit's backbone about 2 inches in length. 



Writing of the Raven's feeding habits, Alexander Wilson said: "It is fond 

 of birds' eggs, and is often observed sneaking around the farmhouse in search 

 of the eggs of the domestic poultry, which it sucks with eagerness; it is likewise 

 charged with destroying young ducks and chickens, and lambs, which have 

 been weaned in a sickly state. The Raven, it is said, follows the hunters of 

 deer for the purpose of falling heir to the offal ; and the huntsmen are obliged 

 to cover their game, when it is left in the woods, with their hunting frocks, to 

 protect it from this thievish connoisseur, who, if he has an opportunity, will 

 attack the region of the kidneys, and maybe the saddle, without ceremony." 



Throughout all ages certain birds have been famous, and very often much 

 significance is attached to their presence. They have been regarded as affect- 

 ing the lives of human beings by bringing joy or sorrow. Thus the Cuckoo is 

 the ancient marriage bird; the Eagle stood for strength and vigor; the Bittern 

 represented desolation; and, in our own country, we have the Bluebird for 

 happiness. The Raven, which has a wide distribution throughout the world, 

 has more or less typified the coming of calamity. It has been one of the favorite 

 birds of literature. In the ancient Hebrew writings we find that the Raven was 

 the first bird that Noah sent out from the Ark. When Elijah was a refugee 

 and was hiding by the brook Cherith, we are told that the Ravens came daily 

 and brought him food. Despite the fact that it appears to have been useful 

 to some of the early Hebrews, Moses wrote down in his law that this was an 

 unclean bird. 



Shakespeare was fond of referring to the Raven. Thus, when Lady Macbeth 

 was told that Duncan was coming, she said, while laying her plans to kill him: 



"The Raven himself is hoarse 

 That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan 

 Under my battlements." 



In our modern American literature surely nothing so weird or depressing 

 has ever been written as Poe's 'Raven.' 



Two sub-species of the large Raven are recognized in this country: One, 

 the American Raven, found in western United States and south to Guatemala, 

 the other known as the Northern Raven inhabiting eastern North America. 



Ravens are supposed to live to a great age. 



