RAVEN. 



117 



continually casting ashore, and which afford them an abundance 

 of a favorite food ; but I did not see or hear a single Crow within 

 several miles of the lakes ; and but very few through the whole 

 of the Gennesee country. 



The food of this species is dead animal matter of all kinds, 

 not excepting the most putrid carrion, which it devours in com- 

 mon with the Vvdtures; worms, grubs, reptiles and shell fish, the 

 last of which, in the manner of the Crow, it drops from a consi- 

 derable height in the air on the rocks, in order to break the shells; 

 it is fond of birds^ ^ggs, and is often observed sneaking around the 

 farm house in search of the eggs of the domestic poultry, which it 

 sucks with eagerness ; it is likewise charged with destroying young 

 ducks and chickens, and lambs which have been yeaned in a sick- 

 ly state. Tiie Raven, it is said, follows the hunters of deer for the 

 purpose of falling lieir to the olFal and the huntsmen are obli- 

 ged to cover their game, when it is left in the woods, with their 

 hunting frocks, to protect it from this thievish connoisseur, who, 

 if he have an opportunity, will attack the region of the kidneys, 

 and mangle the saddle without ceremony. 



Buffon says that " the Raven plucks out the eyes of Buffaloes^ 

 and then, /ixmo- on the back^ it tears off the flesh deliberately ; and 

 what renders the ferocity more detestable, it is not incited by the 

 cravings of hunger, but by the appetite for carnage ; for it can 

 subsist on fruits, seed of all kinds, and indeed may be considered 

 as an omnivorous animal.^' This is mere fable, and of a piece 

 with many otiier absurdities of the same romancing author. 



This species is found almost all over the habitable globe. 

 We trace it in the north from Norway to Greenland, and hear of 

 it in Kamtscliatka. It is common every where in Russia and Si- 

 beria, except within the Arctic circle ;t and all through Europe. 



* This is the case in those parts of the United States where the deer are hunted without dogs ; 

 where these are employed, they are generally rewarded with the olfal. 

 f Latham. 



VOL. IX. G g 



