CHAPTER IV. 



THE CROWS AND THEIR RELATIONS. 



T^O a superficial observer of nature, there may appear 

 to be a much greater resemblance between the Raven, 

 the Crow, the Rook, and the Jackdaw, than we find to be 

 actually the case. At the same time, so different to them 

 in outward appearance are the Jay and Magpie, that it 

 may appear extraordinary to class them all together. 

 Nevertheless, while each, of course, has its distinguishing 

 characters, all are included in the first section of the 

 family of crows. 



The Raven (Corvus corax), from his size and character, 

 naturally takes the lead. Go where we will over the face of 

 the wide world, the well-known hoarse croak of the raven is 

 still to be heard. He was seen perched on the bare rocks, 

 looking over the dreary snows of the highest points visited 

 in the Arctic Expeditions. Under the burning sun of 

 the equator he enjoys his feast of carrion. He was dis- 

 covered in the islands of the Pacific Ocean by Captain 



