Dr. Edmondson describes regular assemblies of crows of the
hooded species--“crow courts,” they are called--which are held
at certain intervals in the Shetland Isles. A particular hill
or field suitable for the business is selected, but nothing is
done till all are ready, and consequently the earlier comers
have sometimes to wait for a day or two till the others arrive.
When all have come, the court opens in a formal manner and the
presumed criminals are arraigned at the bar. A general croaking
and clamor are raised by the assembly and judgment is delivered,
apparently, by the whole court. As soon as the execution is
over, the court breaks up and all its members disperse quietly.
An Alpine tourist relates that, during an excursion in the Swiss
mountains, he accidently came upon a small secluded glen, which
was surrounded by trees, and became the unexpected witness
of a singular spectacle. About sixty or seventy ravens were
ranged in a ring around one of their fellows, evidently reputed
a culprit, and with much clatter of tongues and wings, were
engaged in discussing his alleged delinquencies. At intervals
they paused in their debate in order to permit the accused to
reply, which he did most vociferously and with intense energy,
but all his expostulations were speedily drowned in a deafening
chorus of dissent. Eventually the court appears to have arrived
at the unanimous conclusion that the felon had utterly failed
to exculpate himself, and they suddenly flew at him from all
sides and tore him to pieces, with their powerful beaks. Having
executed their sentence, they speedily disappeared.--_The
Popular Science Monthly._
(611)
=Covenant=--See BLOOD, THE TIE OF.