12 
the weak and sickly lambs afford them 
abundance of food. 
Such birds may be distinguished from 
others of the species, by having their plu- 
mage soiled with mud." 
This indiscriminating voracity of the 
Raven, has procured it various treatment: 
sometimes it has been proscribed as a 
pernicious animal; sometimes it has been 
afforded the protection of the law, as use- 
ful in extirpating noxious insects. 
Landt, in his description of the Peroe 
Islands, says that, " in order that this de- 
structive bird may be exterminated, every 
man who is in a condition to go out to fish, 
must deliver every year the bill of one 
Raven, or the bills of two crows; or failing 
these, pay a certain sum to the provincial 
judge. But all the inhabitants are not 
equally ready to assist in extirpating the 
Ravens ; as there is a saying in Feroe, 
that this bird never does any hurt to the 
farm where it builds its nest. If a man 
therefore, drives it into his neighbour's 
premises, it spares the lambs of the latter, 
but attacks where ever it can, those be« 
