RAVEN, Conus corax, a species of crow (q.v.), remarkable for its large size. It is more than 2 ft. in length from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail. The bill is thick and strong, compressed at the sides, the mandibles sharp at the edges; the upper mandlifle curved at the tip, aid exceeding the lower in length. The base of the bill is surrounded with feathers and .bristles. The tail is rounded, but the middle feathers are considerably the longest. The wings are long—extending from tip to tip to 52 in.—the fourth quill-feather being longest. The color is a uniform black, with more or less of metallic luster, which is particularly conspicuous in the elongated throat-feathers of the male, and is wanting in the whole plumage of the female and young.
The raven is a bird of wide geographic distribution. It is found in almost all parts of the northern hemisphere, but most abundantly-in the more northern and the moun tainous parts of it. In other parts of the world, and within the northern hemisphere itself, however, other closely allied species have probably been often mistaken for it. There are several species of crow very similar to the raven in color, size, and habits.
The raven is generally to be seen either solitary or in pairs. It is one of the most thoroughly omnivorous birds. It feeds on fruits and nuts in forests; it picks up worms or mollusks; it sucks eggs; it kills young hares, or even lambs; it rejoices in car rion, and not unfrequently attacks weak or sickly beasts, almost invariably choosing their eyes as its first point of assault. It generally makes its nest of sticks, Coarse weeds,
wool, hair, etc., in rocky places, on a narrow ledge of a precipice, or in some similar sit uation. Ravens are occasionally captured when young, and become interesting pets, being remarkable for their impudence and cunning, their look of sage thoughtfulness, 1 heir inquisitiveness, their mischievous propensities, which prompt them to destroy every thing that can be destroyed, and always as if the fact of its destruction afforded them pleasure, their thievishness, their love of glittering things, and their power of imitating human speech, which is almost equal to that of parrots. The raven is celebrated for its longevity, and instances are on record of ravens which have certainly lived for 70 or sO years. The raven has been generally reckoned a bi-d of ill-omen, probably on account both of its colon and its extremely harsh croaking voice, which may sometimes be heard in fine weather as if coming front the sky, the raven being a bird of powerful wing, and often soaring very high in the air.