( 19 ) 



The Raven. CorvuS 



Numb. XX. 



IT weighed two Pounds and two Ounces ; its Length from the Tip of the Bill to 

 the End of the Tail, was two Foot and one Inch i its Breadth, when the Wings 

 were extended, was four Foot and one Inch ; the Bill long, thick, fharp, and very 

 black; the upper Chap fomething hooked, the lower ftreight; the Tongue broad, 

 cleft at the Tip, rough and black underneath ; the Iris confifts of a double Circle ; 

 the exteriour being of a light cinereous or afh-colour ; the interiour of a dark ci- 

 nereous j black Hairs or Briftles bending from the Head downwards cover the Nof- 

 tfils ; the Plumage is black all over the Body, having a blue Splendour or Glofs in 

 the Tail and Wings , the Belly is fomething paler inclining to brown ; on the mid- 

 dle of the Back grow only downy Feathers ; for the Back is covered with thofe 

 long Feathers that fpring from the Shoulders, as in many other Birds : The Number 

 of prime Feathers in each Wing is twenty, of which the firft is fliorter than the fe- 

 cond, the fecond than the third, and that than the fourth, which is the longeft of 

 all ; in all from the fixth to the eighteenth the Shaft extends further than the Vans, 

 and ends in a Iharp Point j thefe are of fingular Ufe in Harpficords and Spinets. 



The Tail is about nine Inches long, made up of twelve Feathers j the exteriour be- 

 ing gradually fomewhat fhorter than the interiour 



It hath large crooked Claws, efpecially thofe of the back Toes ^ the outmoft fore 

 Toe is joined to the middlemoft from the Divarication to the firft Joint. 



The Liver is divided into two Lobes j it hath a large Gall flicking to the Guts j 

 the Length of the Guts is forty three Inches j of the blind Guts one Inch. 



The Gullet below the Bill is dilated into a Bag, wherein Ihe brings meat to her 

 Youngs the Stomach within is wrinkled. The Raven feeds not only on Fruits and 

 Infefts, but upon the Carcaffes of Beafts, Birds, and Fifiies ^ and alfo will fet upon 

 living Birds killing and devouring them. 



Ravens are found not only in one Part or Region of the World, but abound in 

 all Countries; do eafily endure all Changes of Weather, fearing neither Heat nor 

 Cold, enduring well to abide and live wherever there is plenty of Meat for them. 



They build in high Trees, or old Towers in the beginning oi March with us in En^- 

 land^ and fometimes fooner : they lay four or five Eggs and fometimes fix, before 

 they begin to fit j their Eggs are of a pale greenifli blue, full of black Spots and 

 Lines. 



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