The Raven. Corvus.
Numb. XX.
IT weighed two Pounds and two Ounces ; its Length from the Tip o f the Bill to
the End o f the Tail, was two Foot and one Inchj its Breadth, when the Wings
were extended, ‘was four Foot and one Inch ; the Bill long, thick, fharp, and very
black ; the upper' Chap fomething hooked, the lower ftreight; the Tongue broad,
cleft at the Tip, rough and black underneath ; the Iris confifts of a double Circle;
the •¿xterijpur * being of a light cinereous or afh-colour; the interiour o f a dark cinereous
; black - Hairs or Bridles bending from the Head downwards cover the Nof-
trils ; the Plumage is black all over the Body, having a blue Splendour or Glofs in
the Tail and Wings, the Belly is fomething paler inclining to brown; on the middle
o f the Back grow1 ohly-downy Feathers; for the Back is covered with thofe
long Feathers that fpring from the Shoulders, as in many other Birds: The Number
o f prime Feathers in each -Wing is twenty, of which the firft is fliorter than the fe-
cond, the-fecond than the third,: and that than the fourth, which is the longeft o f
all ; in all from the fixth- to the eighteenth the Shaft extends further than the Vans
and ends: ¡n, a fharp Point; : thefe arc o f lingular Ufe in Harpficords and Spinets. ’
The Tail is about nine Inches long, made up of twelve Feathers,- the exteriour being
gradually- fomewh'ariihbmr-than the interiour
It hath large crooked Claws, efpecially thofe o f the back Toes; the outmoft fore
Toe is joined to the niiddlemoit ftorn the 'Divarication to the firft Joint.
The Liver ;is divided into two Lobes it hath a large Gall flicking to the Guts -
the Length of the Guts is forty-three Inches; o f the blind Guts one Inch.
The Gullet below the Bill is-dilated-into a Bag, -wherein Ihe brings meat to her
Young; the Stomach within is wrinkled. The Raven feeds not only on Fruits and
Infefts, but upon the CScafles Of Bealls, Birds, and Fifties-; -and alfo will fet upon
living Birds killing-and devouring them-. - ' ■ 1 . . ■ .i 1. "
Ravens are found not only -in- one-Part or Region Of the~World, but abound in
all Countries; do ealily endure all-Changes: o f Weather, fearing neither Heat nor
Cold, enduring well to abide and live wherever there'is-plefit-y b f!Meat for them.
They build in high Trees, or old Towers in the -beginning OfAfera&'-with us in England,
and fometimes fooner : they lay four or five . EggS and fomciimes fix, before
they begin to fit ; their Eggs are of a pale-'grecnilh blue; full of black Spots and
Lines. ■' , ¡o