198 
VEETEBRATA, 
plan Seas, visits our Indian metropolis of Calcutta, forces its way over tlie guarded shores of Ja- 
pan, dwells among our busy descendants of America, ranges from Mount Etna to the Iceland cold 
of Hecla, and braves the rigor of the arctic regions as far as Melville's Island." Captain Eoss 
speaks of it as "one of the few birds capable of braving the severity of an arctic winter ;" and 
Dr. Eichardson says that " it frequents the Barren Grounds of the most intense winter cold, its 
movements being directed in a great measure by those of the herds of reindeer, musk-oxen, and 
bisons, which it follows, ready to assist in devouring such as are killed by beasts of prey or by 
accident. No sooner has a hunter slaughtered an animal than these birds are seen coming from 
various quarters to feast on the offal ; and considerable numbers constantly attend the fishing sta 
tions, where they show equal boldness and rapacity." The raven is rarely seen in the Eastern 
States, but is common in the AVest, and especially in the vicinity of Niagara, and thence north- 
ward to the Fur Countries. 
THE CASBION-CROW OF EUEOPE. 
The Carriok-Crovt or Europe, C. Corone — Corneille Noire of the French — in England passes 
under the various names of Flesh- Orow, Gror-Crow^ BlacJc Croio, Corhy-Crov)^ and Hoody. It is 
eighteen inches long, its plumage black and highly glossed, with purple reflections above and 
green beneath. It is naturally intelligent, and living in the vicinity of man becomes exceedingly 
wary ; it readily distinguishes between a man with a gun in his hand, and from whom it flies 
in fear and terror, and a man on horseback, whom it permits to approach more nearly without 
signs of alarm. It inhabits at all seasons Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, and Italy. 
Temminck says it is a native of Japan. It lives in pairs all the year, and seldom more 
than two arc foimd together, unless at a feast of carrion. Its partiality to animal food, even 
though it be in a putrid state, has given it several of its popular names. It attacks Iambs and 
small quadrupeds, as well as young birds; it also eats shell-fish on the sea-shore. In default 
of meat it eats grain, potatoes, and has been known to feed on green walnuts. It is an early 
breeder, and commences building its nest in February. The female lays four or five eggs of a 
pale bluish-green, spotted and speckled with two shades of ash-color and clove-brown. Its voice 
is harsh, but in captivity it becomes tame and familiar, and shows a great deal of amusing cun- 
ning. The following ballad is descriptive of some of the more remarkable characteristics of this 
bird : 
" The Carrion Crow is a sexton bold, 
He raketh the dead from out the mould ; 
He delveth the ground like a miser old, 
Stealthily hiding his store of gold. 
Caw! caw! 
