goes every where, affronts and drives off the dogs, plays his pranks on the poultry, and is particularly assiduous in cultivating the good-will of the cook maid, who seems to be the favorite of the family. But then, with the amusing qualities of a favorite, he often also has the vices and defects. He is a glutton by nature, and a thief by habit. He does not confine himself to petty depredations on the pantry or the larder; he soars at more magnificent plunder; at spoils which he can neither exhibit nor enjoy; but which, like a miser, he rests satisfied with having the satisfaction of sometimes visiting and contemplating in secret. A piece of money, a tea-spoon, or a ring, are always tempting baits to his avarice; these he will slily seize upon, and, if not watched, will carry to his favorite hole.

In his wild state, the raven is an active and greedy plunderer. Nothing comes amiss to him. If in his flights he perceives no hope of carrion, (and his scent is so exquisite, that he can smell it a vast distance,) he then contents himself with more unsavory food, fruits, insects, and the accidental desserts of a dunghill. This bird chiefly builds its nest in trees, and lays five or six eggs of a pale green color, marked with small brownish spots.

Notwithstanding the injury these birds do in ricking out the eyes of sheep and lambs, when they find them sick and helpless, a vulgar respect is paid for them as being the birds that fed the prophet Elijah in the wilderness. This prepossession in favor of the raven is of very ancient date, as the Romans themselves, who thought the bird ominous, paid it, from motives of fear, the most profound veneration. One of these that had been kept in the temple of Castor, as Pliny informs us, flew down into the shop of a tailor, who took much delight in the visits of his new acquaintance. He

taught the bird several tricks; but particularly to pronounce the name of the Emperor Tiberius and the whole royal family. The tailor was beginning to grow rich by those who came to see this wonderful raven, till an envious neighbor, displeased at the tailor's success, killed the bird, and deprived the tailor of his future hopes of fortune. The Romans, however, took the poor tailor's part; they punished the man who offered the injury, and gave the raven all the honors of a magnificent interment.

Birds in general live longer than quadrupeds; and the raven is said to be one of the most long lived of the number. Some of them have been known to live near a hundred years. This animal, indeed, seems possessed of those qualities that generally produce longevity, namely, a good appetite, and great exercise.

The raven is about two feet in length, and four in breadth of wing. Its bill is strong, and very thick at the base; it measures somewhat more than two inches and a half in length, and is covered with strong hairs or bristles, which extend above half its length, covering the nostrils; the general color of the upper parts is a fine glossy black, reflecting a blue tint in particular lights; the under parts are duller, and of a dusky hue.

The raven is a general inhabitant of the United States, but is more common in the interior. It is a remarkable fact, that where they abound, the common crow seldom makes his appearance.

THIS bird is about eighteen inches in length; its breadth above two feet. Crows are more numerous than ravens, and as widely spread. They live mostly in woods, chiefly in pais, and build their nests on trees: the female lays five or six eggs much like those of a raven. They remain in England all the year. They feed on putrid flesh of all sorts; likewise on eggs, worms, insects, and various sorts of grain. Even pigeons, rabbits, chickens, and young ducks are not safe from their attacks. The crow is a

bold bird; neither the kite, buzzard nor raven can approach its nest without being driven away; and when it has young, it will even fall upon the peregrine falcon, and bring it to the ground by a single stroke of the bill. It is a very common bird in the United States, and is more familiar in its habits in this country than in Europe.

Is about the size of the carrion crow, and, excepting its more glossy plumage, very much resembles it. The base of the bill and nostrils, as far as the eyes, is naked, in which it differs from all the rest, occasioned, it is said, by thrusting its bill into the earth in search of worms: but as the same appearance has been observed in such as have been brought up tame and unaccustomed to that mode of subsistence, we are inclined to consider it an original peculiarity. Rooks are useful in preventing a too great increase of that destructive insect the chafer or dor-beetle, and thereby make large recompense for the depredations they may occasionally commit on the corn-fields. They are gregarious, and fly in immense flocks at morning and evening to and from their roosting places in quest of food. During the breeding time they live together in large societies, and build their nests on the tallest trees close to each other, frequently in the midst of large and populous towns. These rookeries, however, are often the scenes of bitter contests; the new comers are frequently driven away by the old inhabitants, their half-built nests torn in pieces, and the unfortunate couple forced to begin their work anew in

some more undisturbed situation. But though bad neighbors, the males are good husbands, as they begin to feed the hens before the latter commence laying, and continue to do so through the whole season of incubation. The rook is a bird of great sagacity. Dr Darwin remarks, that rooks are obviously more conscious of danger from mankind than most other birds are. Whoever has paid the least attention to them, may perceive that they are quite sensible of the danger being greater when a man is armed with a gun, than when he has no weapon with him. If, in the spring of the year, a person with a gun walk under a rookery, the inhabitants of the trees rise on their wings, and scream to the unfledged young to cower into their nests from the sight of the enemy. This uniformly occurs, and hence the country people assert that rooks can smell gunpowder. This bird is not a native of

America.

THE JACKDAW.1

THIS bird is considerably less than the rook, being only thirteen inches in length. The head is large, and the bill long, in proportion to the body. The eyes are white, and the hinder part of the head and neck are of a hoary gray color; the rest of the plumage is of a fine glossy black above; beneath it has a dusky hue: the legs are black. It remains in England the whole year, and in great flocks frequents churches, old towers, and ruins, and sometimes, though rarely, even chimneys, hollow trees, and rabbit burrows, where it builds its nest: the female lays five or six eggs, paler than those of the crow, and smaller. Jackdaws are easily tamed, and may be taught to pronounce several words: they will conceal part of their food, and with it small pieces of money or toys. They feed on insects, grain, fruit, and small pieces of flesh, and are said to be fond of partridges' eggs. They have also been seen to catch fish.

1 Corvus monedula, LIN.

There is a variety of this bird in Switzerland, which has a white collar round its neck; and in Norway and other cold countries, they have been found perfectly white. They are not found in America.

Is about eighteen inches in length. The head, neck, and breast are of a deep black, finely contrasting with the snowy whiteness of the under parts; the neck feathers are very long, and extend down the back, leaving only a small space, of a grayish ash color, between them and the tail coverts, which are black; the plumage in general is glossed with green, purple, and blue, which catch the eye in different lights; the tail is very long and wedgeshaped; the under tail-coverts, thighs, and legs, are black: on the throat and part of the neck, there is a kind of feathers, mixed with the others, resembling strong whitish hairs. Indeed, were its other accomplishments equal to its beauty, few birds could be put in competition. Its black, its white, its green, and purple, with the rich and gilded combination of the