180 CORVID.E. 



instance, in the book of Proverbs it is said, " The eye that 

 mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, 

 the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young 

 eagles shall eat it." 



The Raven is an observing and cautious bird, noticing 

 everything that takes place within the range of his keen 

 and jealous eye. He is also bold and pugnacious, and more 

 than a match for many birds his superior in point of size. He 

 will not allow a buzzard peacefully to enjoy a piece of 

 carrion, but speedily attacks him and beats him off: he 

 also pursues hawks upon the wing, and will even attack 

 the eagle in the air. This bird is, however, as wary as 

 he is powerful and bold, and seldom alights to feed upon 

 the carrion that his keen eye has discovered, until he has 

 several times circled round and round to see that all is safe. 

 The very sharp scent of the Raven enables him to detect 

 carrion at the distance of several miles ; and the sportsman 

 who lies in wait for this species watches in vain, if he exposes 

 his person either by sight or scent to the acute organs of this 

 sagacious bird. 



When on the ground the Raven walks sedately ; he also 

 hops with great celerity, which power aids him so much, if 

 wounded in the wing, that it requires great exertion in the 

 pursuer to overtake a bird so circumstanced. 



A pair of these birds may occasionally be seen on a clear 

 calm day circling in the air, and towering above the clouds 

 in the manner of the hawk tribe. When on the wing they 

 may be heard at some distance, owing to the action of their 

 strong wings upon the air. 



The call note of this species is a full and deeply pro- 

 nounced craugh ! craugh ! On the approach of stormy or 

 rainy weather they utter many strange sounds as it were 

 with great exertion. Their note of endearment sounds like 



