mountains during summer, and shelterecfjvalleys in winter.
In Egypt the Raven, like the Vulture, is riot molested; its
services in removing offal or putrid flesh being considered
useful. It is found over the countries between the Black
and the Caspian Seas; and M. Temminck includes it among
the Birds of Japan.
Northward in Europe it is found over Scandinavia arid on
the Faroe Islands; it is found also at Iceland'and at Greenland.
The Raven was seen by Captain Sir John Parry and
his parties, and by our other Arctic travellers, on most, if
not upon all the various expeditions to high northern latitudes.
Several pairs were seen at Melville Island; the individuals
which were killed, differed in no respect from European
specimetiSi In the Natural ÏLTsfóry Appendix to the
Second Voyage, it;if| stated that the Ravens-rob the hunters’
traps, and are sometimes caught themselves. - -Scent offal at
a great distance. Pair in March. In the Appendix to the
Third Voyage : —Ravens seen at Port Bowen and the most
northern parts visited by the Expeditions, -; During the.
winter they were frequently observed to have a whi-tej rin^
round their neck, Caused by thé accumulated-encrustrations
of the vapour of. their own breath, and giving them a very-'
singular appearance.- Winter produced no effect on their
plumage. Captain James Ross, in the Appendix written by
him to the account of his uncléVAast jiorthern voyage; "says;
H The Raven is one of the few birds that are capable of braving
the severity of an Arctic winter^ One poor Raven that
had lost a leg either by frost or a trap, visited the ship daily,
and his crippled state exciting commiseration, lie seldom
failed to obtain something in the way of food. - Dr. Richardson
says of the Raven, “ This well-known bird abounds in
the fur-countries of North America, and visits the, .remotest
islands of the Polar SeasC I t frequents the barren grounds
even in the most intense winter colds, its movetnents being
directed in a great’measure by those of the herds of rein-deer,
musk-oxen, and bisons, which it follows, ready to assist in
devouring such as are killed by beasts of prey, or by accident.
No sooner has a hunter slaughtered an animal, than these
birds are seem coming from various quarters to feast on the
offal; and.’.considerable numbers constantly attend the fishing
stations, where they,show,equra|Jbqldness and rapacity. ’
In the. United States,s Mr. Audubon says,.-“ The Raven is
ip, some, degree a migratory bird, A^div^uals^retiring to the
extreme south during severe winters, bu4#eturning towards
the middle,, the/western, and northern districts* at the first
in^ca^iqn of m illll weather. A few are known-to breed in
Afe mnunt:airions?/portions of South Carolina, but instances of
this kind-are,rare, and.are occasioned merely.Mj<t ^ . security
afforded bytdnaccessible precipices, in which they -may rear
-theiryoung.
Our Raven, was formerl^j^c^^ls^fd. to. be, an inhabitant of
the souther^ hemisphere, and may exjsttin. some localities;
but the-Ravenf of Mexico, ari,d;:the equatorial, patrt of the
South American^c^tinent is a distinct bird .larger than out
Raven, with a long and®edge,^shaped, tail," The Raven of
.South Africa is also distinct f-om the European^bird, fe.
smaller in size, with, a morp^ brilliant met^i|i.c,J^tr,e.i on its.
plumage, and has been named in|c|nsje^i|enee Cornus splerv-
im s .. The Museum of the Zoological Society.qontains examples
lofubritb dhesesispfecies» *
^ t f h e beak, dfeou®,, Raven,as istrosg^anjd. black; the feathers
MVerinff the nostrils one inch and a half the
'length of. the beak ; the. hides brown, and grey: the whole'
plumage black glp^pdp with ;st'peljblue, and pu^plfe;; the
feathers on the. throat.elongated and pointed, and exhibiting
more metallic lustrd'^than .those .of other parts. Logs, toes,,
arid claws; shining black ; the begs >a-nd toes strong ; the claws
considerably, curved.
f %