280 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



and extends about two inches beyond the wing; the fea- 

 thers on the breast have a curly appearance; the legs are two 

 inches and a half in length, and, with the feet, are strong 

 and black; the claws are long. 



This bird is said to attain to a great age; and its plumage 

 to be subject to change, from the influence of years and of 

 climate. It is found in Iceland and Greenland entirely 

 white. 



The voice of the Raven is exceedingly harsh, and croak- 

 ing, and is uttered chiefly when flying, and may be heard 

 at the distance of nearly one mile, on a clear, still day. 



The Raven was the constant attendant of Lewis and 

 Clark's party, in their long and toilsome journey. During 

 the winter, at Fort Mandan, they were observed in im- 

 mense numbers, notwithstanding the cold was so excessive, 

 that, on the seventeenth of December, 1S04, the thermo- 

 meter of Fahrenheit stood at 45° below 0. 



The Raven is a bird found in every region of the world; 

 strong and hardy, he is uninfluenced by the change of the 

 weatlier; and when other birds seem numbed with cold, or 

 pining with famine, the Raven is active and healthy, busily 

 employed in prowling for prey, or sporting in the coldest 

 atmosphere. Asthe heats of the line do not oppress him, 

 so he bears the cold of the polar countries with equal indif- 

 ference. He is sometimes, indeed, seen milk-white, and 

 this may probably be the effect of the rigorous climates of 

 the north. 



When the Raven is taken as a domestic, he has many 

 qualities that renders him extremely amusing. Busy, in- 

 quisitive, and impudent, he goes every where, aflronts and 

 drives off the dogs, plays his pranks on the poultry, and is 

 particularly assiduous in cultivating the goodwill of the 

 cook maid, who seems to be the favourite of the family. 

 But then, with the amusing qualities of a favourite, he often 

 also has the vices and defects. He is a glutton by nature, 

 and a thief by habit. He docs not confine himself to petty 

 depredations on the pantry or the larder; he soars at more 

 magnificent pltmder; at spoils which he can neither exhibit 

 nor enjoy; but which, like a miser, he rests satisfied with 

 having the satisfaction of sometimes visiting and contem- 

 plating in secret. A piece of money, a tea-spoon, or a 

 ring, are always tempting baits to his avarice; these he will 

 slily seize upon, and, if not watched, will carry to his fa- 

 vourite hole. 



In his wild state, the Raven is an active and greedy plun- 

 derer. Nothing comes amiss to him. If in his flights he 

 perceives no hope of carrion, (and his scent is so exquisite, 

 that he can smell it at a vast distance), he then contents him- 

 self with more unsavoury food, fruits, insects, and the acci- 

 dental deserts of a dunghill. This bird chiefly builds its nest 



in trees, and lays five or six eggs of a pale green colour, 

 marked with small brownish spots. 



Notwithstanding the injury these birds do in picking out 

 the eyes of sheep and lambs, when they find them sick and 

 helpless, a vulgar respect is paid them as being the birds 

 that fed the prophet FJijah in the wilderness. This pre- 

 possession in, favour of the Raven is of very ancient date, 

 as the Romans themselves, who thought the bird ominous, 

 paid it, from motives of fear, the most profound venera- 

 tion. One of these that had been kept in the temple of 

 Castor, as Pliny informs us, flew down into the shop of a 

 tailor, who took much delight in the visits of his new ac- 

 quaintance. He taught the bird several tricks; but particu- 

 larly to pronounce the name of the Emperor Tiberius and 

 the whole royal family. The tailor was beginning to grow 

 rich by those who came to see this wonderful Raven, till 

 an envious neighbour, displeased at the tailor's success, 

 killed the bird, and deprived the tailor of his future hopes 

 of fortune. The Roman's, however, took the poor tailor's 

 part; they punished the man who offered the injury, and 

 gave the Raven all the honours of a magnificent entertain- 

 ment. 



Birds in general live longer than quadrupeds; and the 

 Raven is said to be one of the most long-lived of the num- 

 ber. Some of them have been known to live near a hun- 

 dred years. This animal, indeed, seems possessed of those 

 qualities that generally produce longevity, namely, a good 

 appetite, and great exercise. " 



TO BLOW EGGS FOR PRESERVATION 

 IN CABINETS. 



A READY method of effecting this purpose, is to take a tube 

 either of glass or metal, one end of which is drawn out, or 

 fashioned to a point, (tiie tube being large enough to hold 

 the contents of the egg,) and having made a pin hole at the 

 side of the egg, large enough to admit the point of the pipe, 

 (one sixth part of an inch) apply the mouth to the large end, 

 and suck as hard as possible. The contents of the egg will 

 immediately rise into the tube. Having blown them out 

 into a basin, suck a little clean water into the tube and blow 

 it into the egg; shake the egg for about a minute, and draw 

 out the water again into the tube, and it will leave the egg 

 perfectly clean. The common dropping tube of the chem- 

 ist, which has a ball in the middle of it, answers this pur- 

 pose extremely well. — Loudon's Mag. of Nat. History, 

 March, 1S3I. 



