N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y of NO R W A Y. 9 t 



SECT. IV. 



Raage. See Allike. 



Ravn, the Raven, Corvus, is here, as in other places, well r^/ 

 known to be a voracious and hurtful Bird with us : it not only 

 d^ftroys other Birds, and their eggs, but alfo lambs and kids. For 

 this reafon, according to Mr. L. Debes's account, it was ufual 

 formerly, and is ftill at Faroe, that each farmer, on St. Olai's 

 day, is obliged to bring a Raven's head with him, or forfeit four 

 {killings. The fame author alfo fays, p. 125, that in this coun- 

 try there are found fome, tho' few, that are white ; and fome 

 half white and half black. Thefe Birds are eafily taught to 

 lpeak. 



Willughbeius gives an account, Lib. iii. cap. 3. p. 2,48, of the 

 Sea Raven, with fee c like a Goofe, called the Cormorant, which Cormorant, 

 are found on the Scotch iflands, and confequently here; for we' 

 have all kind of Birds in common with them ; though I have had 

 no particular account of this Bird from my oblervers. He fays of 

 thefe, that they are tamed and broke in the fame manner as the 

 Otters, to catch fifh for their mafters ufe, of which the Cormo- 

 rant brings afhore a pretty deal together, and then cafts them 

 up. This Bird's way of catching fifh is to fill his craw with 

 them, and throw them up when he comes afhore, for the family's 

 ufe ; fo that they do not look very tempting to eat. We have 

 the Night Raven alfo here, which differs by his frightful noife in 

 the night, and is thence named Nydi Corax. 



Reyn Spoe. See Heiloe. 



Ringetroft. See DrofTell. 



Of the Rype, or Partridge, we have in Norway two forts, D 

 namely, the Field Rype, which lives very high in the rocks, and ^ 

 is lefs than the other, and the common fort ; they are both much 

 about the fizeof a Pigeon, which they alfo refemble, excepting that 

 their legs are covered with feathers ; and they are therefore called 

 Lagopus, 1. e. Hare foot. The common Partridge, which haunts 

 the low rallies or dales, is fomething larger, about the fize of 

 a lmall Chicken. Both forts are white in the Winter, in the 

 Spring fpeckled, and in the Summer grey ; they are here in great 

 quantities, yet fome years more than others •. 



* When the firft fnow comes with the eaft or north-caft wind from the high moun- 

 aZlt " p r th f * $** ^ here, in the diocefe of Bergen, expeS a great 

 quantity 01 Partridges, but if the firft fnow comes with a weft o & r fouth-weft wind, 

 then it carries them up towards the rocks, and we don't get many that year hereabout! 



They 



