R A U 
but flowly on level ground; but, when among 
rocks, that it goes at a prodigious rate. How- 
ever, if we may argue from analogy, the opinion 
of thofe who contend for it's flow movement 
feems the mofl probable, as the viper, v/hich it 
fo nearly refembles, is remarkable among ferpents 
for it's fluggifh motions. 
But leaving the confideration of this quality to 
future obfervers, we proceed to a peculiarity fome 
authors afcribe to the Rattle-Snake, namely, that 
of charming it's prey into it's mouth; which 
fome very flady deny. The inhabitants of Penn- 
fylvania, iiowever, are faid to have opportuni- 
ties of obferving this fafcination every day: the 
Snake is often feen balking at the foot of fome 
tree where birds and fquirrels take up their refi- 
dence ; there, coiled on it's tail, it's jaws extended, 
and it's eyes gleaming like fire, it levels it's dread- 
ful glance at one or other of the little animals 
above. The bird, or fquirrel, too plainly per- 
ceives the meditated mifchief, and hops from 
branch to branch with a timorous, plaintive found, 
wifhing to avoid, yet incapable of breaking 
through the charm: thus it continues for fome 
time it's feeble efforts and complaints, but is ftill 
feen approaching lower and lower towards the 
bottom branches of the tree; till at laft, as if van- 
quiflied by the potency of it's fears, it jumps 
down from the tree diredly into the throat of it's 
hideous deflroyer. 
In order to afcertain the authenticity of this 
wonderful quality, a moufe was put into a large 
iron cage wherein a Rattle-Snake was kept, and 
the effeil carefully obferved: the moufe remained 
motionlefs at one end of the cage ; while the Snake 
continued fixed at the other, v/ith an eye glaring 
full on the timid animal, and it's jaws opened to 
their wideft extent. The moufe, for fome little 
time, appeared eager to efcape ; but every effort 
ferved only to increafe it's terrors, and to draw it 
ftill nearer the enemy; till, after feveral ineffeflual 
attempts to break the fafcination, it was obferved 
to run direftly into the mouth of the Snake. 
To the above relations the incredulous oppofe 
their apparent improbability; and affert, that fuch 
a power afcribed to ferpents is only a relic of a vul- 
gar error, by which it was fuppofed that thefe 
creatures themfelves could be charmed at the fame 
time that they poffeifed the power of charming: 
they aver, that animals are fo far from running 
down the throat of the Rattle-Snake when in cap- 
tivity, that the reptile vv'ill not then eat any thing, 
but aftually dies for want of fubfiftence. Per- 
haps this fcepticifm is only an effefl of that mo- 
dern philolbphy which doubts of every thing 
that cannot be folved by human reafon; and 
where that fort of evidence cannot be procured, 
denies the fa£l, to difcharge the argument. That 
there is a particular effluvia of the eye in man, as 
well as in irrational animals, which is capable of 
a kind of fafcination, has been admitted by many 
who abjure the marvellous, and are by no means 
the dupes of a blind credulity: may not the Rat- 
tle-Snake then poiTefs a quality in a fuperior de- 
gree proportioned to it's malignity, which is at 
leaft fenfibly felt in other creatures? 
R AUCA AVIS. A bird of the halcyon kind, 
defcribed by Nieremberg as frequenting the Ame- 
rican rivers and lakes. It is almoft as large as 
a duck. The crown of the head is black; and the 
breafl and belly are v/hite. The neck is natu- 
rally very long in proportion to the body ; yet it 
R A V 
may be occafionally contrafled in a wonderful 
manner. The fleili is faid to be proper for 
food. 
Ray has claffed this bird among thofe of whofe 
exiftence he is doubtful ; nor have fucceeding na- 
turaiifls cleared up the fubjecl:. 
RAVEN; the Corvus Corax of Linnaeus. A 
bird of the crow kind, confiderably larger than, 
the carrion crow or the rook; and not only diflin- 
guifhed from them by it's fize, but alfo by it's 
bill, which is fomev/hat more hooked than' that 
of either of the other two. It's weight is about 
three pounds; it's length is upwards of two feet; 
the expanfion of it's wings is rather more than 
four; and it's bill is {bong and thick. The co- 
lour of the whole bird is black, finely gloffcd with 
deep rich blue, except on the belly, where it is 
duflcy. 
The Raven inhabits every region of the world; 
for, being naturally fbong and liardy, it is very 
little influenced by the changes of weather. It 
bears with equal indifference the heat of the line 
and the cold of the polar climates. While other 
birds feem benumbed with cold, or pining with 
famine, the Rciven continues adlive and healthy; 
bufily employed in prowling for prey, or fportino- 
in the coldefl atmofphere. Though ' Black as a 
Raven,' is proverbial, yet this bird is Ibmetimes 
found pure white, owing perhaps to the rip-orous 
climates of the north: this change is wrought on 
the Raven, as on moft other animals in that pare 
of the world, where their cloathing, efpecially in 
winter, affumes a colour fuitable to the country 
they inhabit. 
The Raven is fufliciently docile in whatever is 
within the compafs of any bird's abilities. He 
may be inflrufted in the art of fowling, like the 
hawk; like the fpaniel, be taught to fetch and 
carry ; and even to fpeak like the parrot. Dr. 
Goldfmjith allures us that he may be brought to 
imitate any vocal mufic : ^ I have heard,' fays he, 
' a Raven fing the Black-joke with great diftinft- 
nefs, truth, and humour.' 
Confidered as a domefbic bird, the Raven pof^ 
feffes many qualities which render him extremely 
amufing: aftive, curious, and impudent, he goes 
every where; pries into everything; runs after 
dogs; plays tricks with poultry; and with great 
fkill and addrefs infinuates himfelf into the favour 
of the cook-maid, fenfible of her ability to rev/ard 
him for his attachment and attention. By nature 
a glutton, and by habit a thief; not confined to 
petty depredations on the pantry or the larder, 
like a mifer, he hoards what he can neither exhi- 
bit nor enjoy : a ring, a tea-fpoon, a piece of coin, 
or any glittering bauble, are always tempting 
baits to his avarice; thefe he will watch oppor- 
tunities to pilfer, and carry them to his magazine 
of curiofities. 
In a ftate of nature, the Raven is a moft vora- 
cious plunderer. He is by no means delicate in 
the choice of his food: Vv'hether his prey be liv- 
ing or dead, he greedily devours it; and, after 
having fufficiently gorged himfelf, flies to ac- 
quaint his companions, that they may participate 
of the fpoil. If the carcafe fhould happen to be 
already in the poflelTion of a fox, a dog, or any 
other animal more powerful than himfelf, he ufu- 
ally fits at a little diftance, a patient fpedator, 
till the creature is fatisfied. If he can difcover 
no carrion, which from his exquifite fcent he can 
fmeli at a vaft diftance^ he then contents himfelf 
with 
