THE RAVEN. 79 



admiring the manifestations of the glorious perfections of their Omnipotent 

 Creator. 



There, amid the tall grass of the far-extended prairies of the West, in the 

 solemn forests of the North, on the heights of the midland mountains, by 

 the shores of the boundless ocean, and on the bosom of the vast lakes and 

 magnificent rivers, have I sought to search out the things which have been 

 hidden since the creation of this wondrous world, or seen only by the naked 

 Indian, who has, for unknown ages, dwelt in the gorgeous but melancholy 

 wilderness. Who is the stranger to my own dear country that can form an 

 adequate conception of the extent of its primeval woods, — of the glory of 

 those columnar trunks, that for centuries have waved in the breeze, and 

 resisted the shock of the tempest, — of the vast bays of our Atlantic coasts, 

 replenished by thousands of streams, differing in magnitude, as differ the 

 stars that sparkle in the expanse of the pure heavens, — of the diversity of 

 aspect in our western plains, our sandy southern shores interspersed with 

 reedy swamps, and the cliffs that protect our eastern coasts, — of the rapid 

 currents of the Mexican Gulf, and the rushing tide streams of the Bay of 

 Fundy, — of our ocean-lakes, our mighty rivers, our thundering cataracts, 

 our majestic mountains, rearing their snowy heads into the calm regions of 

 the clear cold sky? 



In the United States, the Raven is in some measure a migratory bird, 

 individuals retiring to the extreme south during severe winters, but returning 

 towards the Middle, Western, and Northern Districts at the first indications 

 of milder weather. A few are known to breed in the mountainous portions 

 of South Carolina, but instances of this kind are rare, and are occasioned 

 merely by the security afforded by inaccessible precipices, in which they 

 may rear their young. Their usual places of resort are the mountains, the 

 abrupt banks of rivers, the rocky shores of lakes, and the cliffs of thinly- 

 peopled or deserted islands. It is in such places that these birds must be 

 watched and examined, before one can judge of their natural habits, as mani- 

 fested amid their freedom from the dread of their most dangerous enemy, 

 the lord of the creation. 



There, through the clear and rarified atmosphere, the Raven spreads his 

 glossy wings and tail, and, as he onward sails, rises higher and higher each 

 bold sweep that he makes, as if conscious that the nearer he approaches the 

 sun, the more splendent will become the tints of his plumage. Intent on 

 convincing his mate of the fervour and constancy of his love, he now gently 

 glides beneath her, floats in the buoyant air, or sails by her side. Would 

 that I could describe to you, reader, the many musical inflections by means 

 of which they hold converse during these amatory excursions! These 

 sounds doubtless express their pure conjugal feelings, confirmed and rendered 



