RAVEN. 
235 
Palls of the Niagara river, they are numerous ; and it 
is a remarkable fact, that where they so abound, the 
Common crow (c. corone) seldom makes its appearance ; 
Ijeiuo- intimidated, it is conjectured, by the superior 
size\ud strength of the former, or by an antipathy 
"’hicli the two species manifest towards each other. 
This I had an opportunity of observing myself, in a 
journey during the months of August and September, 
^ong the lakes Eric and Ontario. The ravens were 
^eeii every day, prowling about in search of the dead 
fish which the w.avcs are continually casting ashore, 
'ind which afford them an abund.auce of a favourite 
food • but I did not see or hear a single crow within 
several miles of tlie lakes, and but very few through 
the whole of the Gennesee country. , ... 
The food of this species is dead animal matter ot all 
hinds, not excepting the most putrid carrion, which it 
fievours in common with the vultures ; worms, grubs, 
teptiles, and shell fish, the hast of which, in the maimer 
of the crow, it drops from a considerable height in the 
'lir on the rocks, in order to break the shells ; it is 
fond of bird’s eggs, and is often observed sneaking 
’•'•oiind the farm house in search of the eggs of the 
'lomestic poultry, which it sucks with eagerness ; it is 
fihewise charged with destroying young ducks and 
^^ickens, and lambs w^hicb have been y(?aned in a sickly 
The raven, it is said, follows the hunters of deer 
fot the purpose of falling heir to the offal ;♦ and the 
,fiuntsmeii are obliged to cover their game, when it is 
!«ft in the woods, 'with their hunting frocks, to protect 
from this thievish connoisseur, who, if he have an 
'•Pportunity, will attack the region of the kidneys, and 
"“angle the saddle without ceremony. 
, Bufton says, that “ the raven plucks mtt the of 
hffaloes, and tMen, fixing on the back, it tears off the 
■flffih dcHheratehn and wh.at renders the ferocity more 
**etcstable, it is not incited by the cravings ot hunger, 
, • This i, the ease in those parts of the United States where the 
"““t are hunted without dogs : where these are employed, they are 
^feneraJly rewarded with the offal. 
