130. _The RAVEN_ (Corvus corax) _is a bird of the crow tribe, known by
its large size, its plumage being of bluish black colour, and its tail
being roundish at the end._
_It is found in almost every country of Europe, Siberia, and North
America._
In Egypt these birds are held nearly in equal veneration with the vultures
(123), on account of their propensity to devour dead animals, and putrid
substances of almost every description. They also destroy rats, mice, and
small reptiles. It is said that in the Bermudas the inhabitants were, for
several years, annoyed by a prodigious increase of rats, which devoured the
corn and plants, and swam from island to island, committing great
depredations in every place; and that, at length, they suddenly
disappeared, without any other assignable cause than the unexpected
presence of several flocks of ravens. By the ancients these birds were
esteemed of much importance, from a notion that, by the various modulations
or tones of their voice, certain future events might be predicted.
Ravens are easily domesticated, and in this state may be trained to
fowling, somewhat in the same manner as falcons (127). They may also be
taught to fetch and carry small objects, like spaniels; but they are so
mischievous that they ought not to be trusted in any place where spoons or
other valuable articles are deposited, lest they also carry them away and
hide them.
The _flesh_ of the raven is eaten by the inhabitants of Greenland; and the
_skin_, with the feathers on, is preferred to most other substances as a
warm under garment. The _beak_ and _claws_ are used, in that country, as
amulets. With us the _quills_, cut to a point, were formerly much in
request for what are called the jacks of harpsichords, to strike the wires
in playing. They are now chiefly employed for drawing and writing with.
131. _The ROOK_ (Corvus frugilegus) _is a bird of the crow tribe,
distinguished by its black and glossy colour, the base of the bill being
naked and dusky, and the tail being roundish._
_These birds are found in Europe and Siberia._
Notwithstanding the prejudices which are entertained, by many farmers,
against these birds, arising from a supposition that they feed upon grain,
and consequently are destructive to the crops, there can be little doubt
that the services they perform are infinitely greater than any injury they
commit. Often may flocks of them be seen following at a little distance the
ploughs, to devour the grubs or caterpillars of such insects as may be
thereby exposed to their attacks. These of the cockchafer are destroyed by
them in thousands; and it is remarkable that the nostrils, chin, and sides
of the mouth, in old rooks, are white, and bared of feathers, in
consequence, as it is supposed, of their frequent habit of thrusting their
bill into the ground in search of these insects. The late Mr. Stillingfleet
was informed, by an intelligent farmer in Berkshire, that, one year, while
his men were hoeing a field of turnips, a great number of rooks alighted in
a part of it where they were not at work; and that the consequence was a
remarkably fine crop in that part, while in the remainder of the field
there were scarcely any turnips.
Young rooks are sometimes used as food; but it is requisite to skin them,
previously to their being cooked, as otherwise they would be too
strong-tasted to be eaten.
132. _The RED-BELLIED TOUCAN_ (Ramphastos picatus) _is a bird about
twenty inches in length, with an enormously large bill of yellowish green
colour, and serrated at the edges; the upper part of the body blackish,
the breast yellow, and the belly and the tip of the tail red._
_This bird is found in Africa, and in several of the eastern parts of
South America._
We are assured, by travellers in South America, that the red-bellied
toucans are held in great esteem by the Indians, not only on account of
their _flesh_ as food, but also for their _plumage_; particularly the
feathers of the breast, which are used to ornament their dresses. The
Indians even cut out the skin of this part, with the feathers on, and,
after it has been dried, glue it to their cheeks, considering it a great
addition to their beauty. We are informed by one of the French voyagers
that, whilst he was off the island of St. Catherine, near the coast of
Brazil, the governor, among other presents, sent on board the ship fifty
skins of toucans which had been dried with the feathers on.
133. _The BIRD of PARADISE_ (Paradisea apoda, Fig. 32) _is characterized
by its having a chesnut-coloured body, the neck being of a gold green
colour beneath, the feathers of the sides being longer than the body, and
the two middle tail-feathers very long and bristly._
_These birds inhabit New Guinea and the adjacent islands of Aroo; being
found on the former in the fine, and the latter in the rainy seasons._
To the inhabitants of the islands of Aroo the birds of paradise have, for
many centuries, been an important article of commerce. They are shot with
blunt-headed arrows; or caught by birdlime or in snares. As soon as they
are killed their legs are cut off, as, by that means, the skins are more
easily preserved, and also because the persons who purchase them prefer
them thus. The entrails and breast-bone are taken out, and they are dried
with smoke and sulphur, for exportation to Banda and other commercial
settlements.
They are in great demand both in Persia and India to adorn the turbans of
persons of rank, and even the handles of sabres and the trappings of
horses. Many of them are also sold to the Chinese; and, a few years ago,
they were a very fashionable ornament for female head-dress in England.
The appellation of birds of paradise has been given to these birds from a
notion, formerly prevalent, that, destitute of feet, they were constantly
in flight, even during their sleep; or that, if they did rest, it was only
for a few moments together, and then suspended from the branches of trees
by the long feathers of their tail: that the female deposited her eggs in a
hollow place on the back of the male, and there sat upon and hatched them,
that they fed only on dew: that, destitute of stomach and intestines, the
whole abdominal cavity was filled with fat; and, lastly, that they never
touched the earth until their death. It is somewhat difficult to account
for the origin of notions so absurd, unless we are to suppose them the
inventions of persons who traded in the skins of these birds, and founded
merely in the very extraordinary nature of their plumage, and the
circumstance of such skins being always sold without the legs.
Birds of paradise generally associate in flocks of forty or fifty together.
They form their nests in trees, and feed on fruit and insects. Their legs
are so short that, when they alight upon the ground, they cannot, without
difficulty, rise again into the air.
134. _The BEE CUCKOO, or MOROC_ (Cuculus indicator), _is an African bird
somewhat larger than a sparrow, of rusty grey colour above, and whitish
beneath; it has naked and black eyelids, a yellow spot on the shoulders,
and the feathers of the tail somewhat rust-coloured, marked with white._
The great partiality which these birds have to honey and the maggots of
bees, as food, is the cause of their pointing out the hives of wild bees to
the inhabitants of those countries in which they are found. As soon as the
moroc has itself discovered a nest of bees, it utters a loud and continued
cry, as if for the purpose of exciting attention to its wants. If followed
by any person, it flies slowly towards the place, alighting from time to
time, to give opportunity for its attendant to come up. If the hive be in
the cleft of a rock, a hollow tree, or in some cavity of the earth, the
moroc will hover over the spot for a short time, and then sit, at a little
distance, in expectation of the result, and apparently with a view of
sharing in the plunder. When the bee-hunter has taken the nest, he
generally leaves a share of the comb to supply the wants and repay the
services of the bird. We are informed by M. Le Vaillant that the Hottentots
have so great a regard for these birds that they consider it criminal to
kill them.
135. _WOODPECKERS are a numerous race of birds, distinguished by having
a straight, strong, and angular bill, and their tongue very long,
slender, bony, hard, and jagged at the end. Their toes are formed two
forward and two backward._
The English species of woodpeckers are somewhat injurious in woods and
plantations, from their propensity to pick holes in trees as places for
their nests. By this means the rain has admission to the wood, and often
causes its speedy decay. In forming these holes the birds fix themselves
firmly against the trees by their claws and tail, the feathers of which are
remarkably stiff: and they are able to pierce even the soundest and hardest
timber.
It does not appear that any of the English species of woodpecker are of
further use than by their subsisting on such insects as are found upon the
bark, or in crevices or holes of trees; but there can be no doubt that they
are very serviceable, by destroying great numbers of the grubs of these
timber-eating beetles, some of which bore to great depths, and have holes
of considerable size.
Some of the tribes of Turguses roast these birds; then bruise their bodies,
and mixing the substance thus formed with fat, cover with it the points of
arrows which they use in the chase, under a notion that such animals as are
struck with these arrows immediately fall dead.
Of the bills of the _WHITE-BILLED WOODPECKER (Picus principalis)_ some of
the American Indians make a kind of coronets, by setting them in a wreath
with the points outward. And such is the value at which they estimate these
coronets, that they frequently purchase the bills at the rate of two and
even three deer's skins each.--The flesh of some of the species is
accounted good eating.