The RAVEN (_Corax nobilis_), as the principal member of this group is
called _par excellence_, is recognisable by its lengthy body, broad,
long, and pointed wings, the third quill of which considerably exceeds
the rest in length; the tail is of moderate dimensions, and graduated.
Its plumage is short, glossy, and uniformly black; the eyes of the old
birds are brown, those of the young blueish black, and those of the
nestlings pale grey. The length of this species is about two feet, its
breadth four and a quarter; the wing measures seventeen inches, and the
tail nine and three-quarters.
This Raven is spread over a much larger portion of the world than
any of its congeners; it inhabits the whole of Europe, as well as a
great part of Asia, and is met with in the countries extending from
the Altai Mountains to Japan. It is at present uncertain whether the
very large Raven met with in North America is the same or only a
similar species. Throughout some parts of Europe these birds dwell
comparatively apart from man, preferring to inhabit such localities as
mountains, dense forests, or rocky coasts, while others, that frequent
the northern, southern, or eastern coasts of our continent, live on
comparatively friendly terms with the lord of the soil, from whom their
many objectionable habits do not meet with the same retribution as in
the more central or western lands. Ravens usually live in pairs, and
remain constantly together throughout their lives, passing their time
principally in flying in company with each other over the surrounding
country. When on the wing, their movements are extremely beautiful, they
alternate between a rapid and direct flight, produced by a powerful
stroke of the wings, these, like the tail, being kept outspread, and a
hovering motion, that takes the form of a series of gracefully described
circles, seeming to be produced without the slightest effort on the part
of the birds, who occasionally amuse themselves by dropping suddenly to
a distance of some feet, and then continuing their way as before. Upon
the ground their gait is distinguished by a most absurd assumption of
dignity, the upper portion of the body being held considerably raised,
whilst they gesticulate with the head in a most laughable attempt to
keep time with the movements of the feet. While perched the feathers are
generally kept quite close, those only upon the head or neck being spread
or ruffled when the creature is under the influence of strong emotion:
the wings are always kept slightly raised from the body.
By the rest of its congeners the Raven would seem to be regarded with
abhorrence, for they will fall upon and attack it with the utmost
animosity: and should it attempt to join a party of other species of its
family, they greet it with as noisy demonstrations of terror, as if the
intruder were a Hawk or a Buzzard, and compel it at once to retire from
amongst them. In its relations with man nothing can exceed the prudence
and wariness of the Raven, its fear of molestation being so strong as to
compel it even to desert its nestlings should an enemy approach, although
its attachment to its offspring is usually both warm and constant. The
voice of this bird is varied, and its manner of chattering to its mate
during the period of incubation even more peculiar and incessant than
that of the Magpie.
In voracity the Raven has but few equals, for not only will it eat
almost all kinds of food, including fruit, corn, and every description
of insect, but it will seize upon and devour creatures exceeding itself
in size, and attack not only almost any quadruped from a hare to a
mouse, but boldly engage the Seagulls in combat, when those birds seem
inclined to dispute its right to invade their nests and despoil them
of their young. Boldness and cunning, strength and dexterity, all seem
to be united in the character of this daring marauder; it will attack
domestic fowls, ducks, or young geese, and chase and destroy not only
partridges, but hares and pheasants. In some parts of Ireland the Raven
may be seen picking up its food in the vicinity of houses in company with
dogs and cats, or prowling about on the sea-shore in search of fish.
During the spring it destroys numbers of young lambs, or amuses itself
by driving Eider Ducks from their nests to devour their eggs, and when
it has satiated itself will conceal those that remain beneath the sand;
even horses are not free from the attacks of these birds, which will
settle upon the back of any wounded or suffering animal, and can only
be dislodged after long and violent efforts. Eagles they do not venture
to contend with, but follow in their wake in the hope of obtaining the
remnants of their prey; in short, nothing that can be overcome by their
strength, craft, or audacity is spared; they will even, it is said,
devour the aged or nestlings belonging to their own species. We are
assured that mussels form a part of the Raven's diet, the bird having
first carried them into the air, and let them fall from a considerable
height, to break their shells upon the rocks or stones beneath; they
will also eat the hermit crab, which is obtained by rapping its shell
until the unsuspecting creature creeps out to ascertain the cause of
the disturbance. Despite the cruel and rapacious disposition of these
birds, their deeds are not always deeds of evil; on the contrary, great
and valuable are some of the services they often render to man, insomuch
that by some nations they are regarded with the utmost favour--the Arabs,
indeed, look upon them with such superstitious reverence as to imagine
them to be immortal, and in Greenland and Iceland they are allowed to
run tame about the houses. On the other hand, in the Canary Islands they
are held in the utmost detestation by the shepherds, who maintain that
they constantly peck out the eyes of young goats and lambs, and on this
account wage an exterminating war against them.
The eyrie of the Raven is generally situated in the hole of a rock, or
the summit of a high and inaccessible tree; it is usually about one
foot deep, and from two to three feet wide; the exterior is formed of
small branches, lined with a layer of twigs, and the interior, which is
about nine inches in diameter, and four or five inches in depth, bedded
with wool, fine grass, and similar materials, the utmost caution being
employed by these birds, both when seeking materials and when building
the large and strong cradle which year after year is resorted to for the
purposes of incubation. The eggs, usually four or five in number, are
large, and of a green colour, marked with brown and grey spots. Ravens
are by no means deficient in care for their young, and labour incessantly
to satisfy their ever-craving beaks with all kinds of animal food; should
fear compel them to quit their charge, they perch as near the little
family as safety will permit, and testify by plaintive cries and anxious
flutterings their desire to return to their brood. When fully fledged,
the young do not entirely leave the nest, but return every evening for
some weeks, in order to pass the night in the snug warmth that it affords
them, and perhaps to receive instruction during the day, as to the means
to be employed in obtaining food; they probably leave their protectors
only when the autumn approaches. When tamed the Raven may be taught to
speak with facility. It will likewise imitate a great variety of sounds,
and those who can overlook its thievish propensities and tiresome habits
will often derive considerable pleasure from watching its amusing tricks,
and cultivating its really high capacities.
* * * * *
The VULTURE RAVENS (_Corvultur_), as two African members of this group
have been called, are birds exceeding the Common Raven in rapacity
as well as in size. Both these species have unusually thick beaks,
compressed at their sides, the upper mandible being so decidedly bent as
closely to resemble that of a Vulture; the third and forth quills are
longer than the rest; the tail is rather large, and slightly graduated.
* * * * *
[Illustration: THE WHITE-NECKED VULTURE RAVEN (_Corvultur albicollis_).]
The WHITE-NECKED VULTURE RAVEN (_Corvultur albicollis_) and the
THICK-BILLED VULTURE RAVEN (_Corvultur crassirostris_), the former
a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and the latter an inhabitant of
Abyssinia, are much alike in their general appearance; both are of
a glossy coal black, except upon the nape, which is white. In the
Abyssinian species the sides of the neck gleam with a rich purple, and
the rest of the coat is lighted up with a blue refulgence; the small
feathers upon the wing-covers near the shoulder are a mixture of chestnut
and black; and the white marks upon the nape extend upwards till they
reach the top of the head; the eye is reddish brown, the feet and beak
black, the latter being tipped with white. The length of this species is
about three feet two inches, the length of wing one foot five inches, and
of the tail nine inches. According to Rüppell, this bird inhabits the
Abyssinian highlands, and is often found at an altitude of 5,000 feet
above the level of the sea. Le Vaillant tells us that the Vulture Raven
is voracious, daring, extremely noisy, and very filthy in its habits,
subsists principally upon carrion, and destroys large numbers of sheep
and gazelles, tearing out their eyes and tongue and then devouring them.
Were it possible, it would readily contend with buffaloes, elephants,
cattle, or horses, but is compelled to rest content with following them
and relieving such as are tormented with various parasites to which
they are liable, the poor creatures often allowing the Vulture Raven to
peck their hides till the blood flows rather than endure the perpetual
irritation from which they suffer so severely. The nest of the Vulture
Raven is built in October, and placed upon the branches of a tree; it
is formed of twigs, lined with some soft material. The four eggs of
which a brood is composed are green, spotted with brown. This species
never migrates, but remains from one year's end to another near the
same locality; occasionally it associates with its congeners, but never
partakes of the food on which they subsist.
[Illustration: THE SCAPULATED RAVEN (_Pterocorax scapulatus_).]