THE RAVEN. 
287 
THE TRUE CROWS. 
We now arrive at the true Crows, which, like the preceding group, have no tooth in the 
upper mandible, but may be distinguished from them by the greater comparative length of 
the wings. 
The first .of these birds on our list is the celebrated Raven, our finest representative of 
the family. 
This truly handsome bird is spread over almost all portions of the habitable globe, finding 
a livelihood wherever there are wide expanses of uncultivated ground, and only being driven 
from its home by the advance of cultivation and the consequent inhabitance of the soil by 
human beings. It is a solitary bird, living in the wildest district that it can find, and especially 
preferring those that are intersected with hills. In such localities the Raven reigns supreme, 
hardly the eagle himself daring to contest the supremacy with so powerful, crafty, and strong- 
beaked a bird. 
The food of the Raven is almost entirely of an animal nature, and there are few living 
things which the Raven will not eat whenever it finds an opportunity of so doing. Worms, 
grubs, caterpillars, and insects of all kinds are swallowed by hundreds, but the diet in which 
the Raven most delights is dead carrion. In consequence of this taste, the Raven may be 
found rather plentifully on the sheep-feeding grounds, where the flocks are of such immense 
size that the bird is sure to find a sufficiency of food among the daily dead ; for its wings are 
large and powerful, and its daily range of flight is so great, that many thousands of sheep pass 
daily under its ken, and it is tolerably sure in the course of the day to find at least one dead 
sheep or lamb. Sometimes the Raven accelerates matters, for if it should find an unfortunate 
sheep lying in a ditch, a misfortune to which these animals are especially prone, it is sure to 
cause the speedy death of the poor creature by repeated attacks upon its eyes. Weakly or 
ailing sheep are also favorite subjects with the Raven, who soon puts an end to their sufferings 
by the strokes of his long and powerful beak. Even the larger cattle are not free from the 
assaults of this voracious bird, which performs in every case the office of a vulture. 
So strongly is the desire for attacking wounded or dying animals implanted in the breast 
of the Raven, that, according to Mudie, the best method of attracting one of these birds within 
gunshot is to lie on the back on some exposed part of a hill, with the gun concealed and close 
at hand. It is needful to remain perfectly quiet, because if there is the slightest sign of life 
the Raven will not approach, for, as Mudie rather quaintly observes, “he is shy of man and 
of all large animals in nature ; because, though glad to find others carrion, or to make carrion 
of them if he can do it with impunity, he takes good care that none shall make carrion of 
him.” It is equally needful to watch carefully and not to be overcome by sleep, as the first 
indication of the Raven’s approach would to a certainty be the loss of an eye. 
“But if you lie on your back,” says Mudie, “he will come you know not whence, and 
hovering round you on slow wing, examine yon from all points. If you do not stir, he will 
drop down at a little distance, and begin to hop in an echellon fashion, bringing his shoulders 
forward alternately, after a few hops on each line of the zigzag. Sometimes he will utter his 
‘ crack-crack,’ and pause to see if that makes you stir, and if it does not, he will accelerate 
his advance.” 
Sheep and cattle do not, however, form the whole of a Raven’s diet, for besides the insects 
which have already been mentioned, this bird eats mice, rabbits, birds of various kinds, includ- 
ing young partridges and pheasants, and will invade the farm-yard when pressed by hunger, 
and carry off the young poultry. Even the hedgehog falls a victim to the Raven, who cares 
nothing for his spiked armor, but drives his sharp bill through the poor beast, tears away the 
prickly skin, and devours the carcase at his leisure. In Northern America, and indeed in 
many other countries, the Raven is a regular attendant on the hunters, and follows them for 
the purpose of feeding upon the offal of the creatures which they kill. 
