THE RAVEN. 
719 
members of this group from all the accusations brought 
against them, though at the same time I am ready to 
enter the lists in their favour. Seven members of this 
genus inhabit Germany : five true Crows, namely, the 
Eaven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, and Jackdaw; 
and two species of alpine Crows or Choughs; in this way 
we have the mystic number in its integrity. 
Thus Raven, Crow, and Daw, are the principal names 
by which the commoner species are known. What 
names! Not one of them but has a sombre ring about 
it. The appearance of a Raven on the scene at an inoppor¬ 
tune moment would render the sacrifice of none avail in 
the eyes of the Roman augur. The Bible speaks of the 
Raven as the emblem of vengeance:*—“The eye that 
mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, 
the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young 
Eagles shall eat it.” And in our time the Raven is 
not regarded with more favour than it was then. The 
gibbet and the wheel are rarely depicted minus the 
Raven. Sayings and proverbs alike perpetuate ill-will 
towards the whole brotherhood. “He steals like a 
Raven,” or “'chatters like a Magpie,” may be given as 
examples. 
I have already spoken of this family as being cosmopo¬ 
litan, and in many of their actions and ways, members 
of the same show a great sense of freedom: they 
know no master, and follow no peculiar or distinctive 
calling; they seek their food openly and in a straight¬ 
forward manner, or the reverse, just as best suits the 
occasion. Unfortunately it must be confessed that they 
are guilty, at times, of acts which, in a certain sense, may 
be regarded as thefts . Like man they are omnivorous ; 
* The author seems to have forgotten that Elijah was fed by Ravens.— W. J. 
