. The American bird fancier; considered with reference to the breeding, rearing, feeding, management, and peculiarities of cage and house birds; with remarks on their diseases and remedies; . ughtfulconsideration almost amounting to gravity. His ordinaryvoice consists of a hoarse croak, resembling the syllable crockor cruck; but he frequently emits a note not unlika the soundof a sudden gulp, or the syllable clucks which he seems to utterwhen in a sportive mood; for, although ordinarily grave, theraven sometimes indulges in a frolic, performing somersets ^1 78 THE KAVEN. and various evolutions
. The American bird fancier; considered with reference to the breeding, rearing, feeding, management, and peculiarities of cage and house birds; with remarks on their diseases and remedies; . ughtfulconsideration almost amounting to gravity. His ordinaryvoice consists of a hoarse croak, resembling the syllable crockor cruck; but he frequently emits a note not unlika the soundof a sudden gulp, or the syllable clucks which he seems to utterwhen in a sportive mood; for, although ordinarily grave, theraven sometimes indulges in a frolic, performing somersets ^1 78 THE KAVEN. and various evolutions in the air. When divination formed aportion of the popular belief in Europe, this bird was held inconsiderable repute. Trouble was even taken to study and all the circumstances attending it^ flight, and thevarious modulations of its voice. Of these, sixty-four differentvariations were enumerated, without including the more deli-cate intonations, exceedingly diflicult to distinguish, to detectwhich, however, an excessively fine ear was requisite, as itscry, crock and cruck, is so simple! Every distinct change hadits peculiar signification, and there were not wanting people. THE RAVKN. who studied to acquire this knowledge, while others carriedtheir folly so far as to believe that, by eating the heart andviscera of this bird, they could acquire its prophetic powers. The raven may be said to possess a social disposition; for,after the breeding season has passed, flocks are often seen inthe northern parts of Europe and the adjacent islands, amount-ing to one or more hundreds. These birds can perceive anobject, as a dead carcass, at a great distance, but that they cansmell carrion a quarter of a mile off, we have no satisfactory ? THE RAVEN. 79 proof, neither need we believe that they can; for as we may-account for the phenomenon by their sight, it is unnecessaryto have recourse to their other faculties. Ravens have cha-racter in their flight, as men have in their walk.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidcu3192400012, bookyear1851
