BIRD LEGEND AND LIFE 



In the myth of the metamorphosis of Coronis by Apollo 

 as told by Ovid, the raven, once white, was turned black for 

 deceitful conduct. 



"The raven flies not straight like other birds, but crooked 

 because cursed by Noah." 



THE CROW STONE 



"On the first of April boil the eggs taken out of a crow's 

 nest until they are hard, and being cold, let them be placed 

 in the nest as they were before. When the crow knows this 

 she flies a long way to find the stone, and returns with it to 

 her nest, and the eggs being touched with it they become 

 fresh and prolific. The stone must be immediately snatched 

 out of the nest. Its virtue is to increase riches, to bestow 

 honors, and foretell future events." 



Leonardus Camillus — Mirror of Stones. 



In Brittany two crows are said to come and perch on 

 the house-roof when the head of the family is about to die. 

 Two crows are there assigned to every family to foretell 

 family events. 



— Journal of Folk Lore, Vol. XI, 



Hindoos gave food to the crows as to the souls of the 

 dead. 



— Zoological Mythology, p. 253. 



In Switzerland a crow perching on the roof of a house 

 in which a corpse lies means that the soul of the dead is lost. 



SWAINSON. 



