New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-19
"
SOME RAVEN STORIES.

From B,shop sdniey's History Of Birds.
A few years ago gentleman, near Chapel-ile-
Firth, In Derbysnire, TOOK young raven from IT'S
nest, and kept it III an outbuilhlng Tor some
months its wings were tnen clipped, ana III was
allowed to go at large IL soon became well known
for mile around, regularly visiting every farm
house within that distance whenever pig was
killed. when 1t always rewarded with some
tIt-bits After the death OF its owner the raven
was gwen TO n surgeon resident in Stockport,
Cheshire, who kept it chained by the leg tor about
twelve months he then gave it its liberty and
not with the success for its thigh was one
daV broken by some idle thouRhtlesS boys, VINO
threw stones at it. The fracture was reduced. the
raven recovered and then again took 10 rambling
about for few weeks, when il disappeared alto
getheI. and was supposed To have met with an I'M
timely end-when about fortnight altei 10 mad
been missed the arrived of IFS safe return TO
its old residence at Chape-le-trlth distant tour-
teen miles, where it was allowed To remain, and
where il lived for many wears.
4 writer in The NdtUTdttSts magazine says thaU
he remembers seeing on post near the Elephant
ana Castle Inn, at winch such multitude or
coaches used TO stop, an inscription on Ralph,
raven of great celebrity. who had been in his days
a distinguished member of the Elephant and Castle
establishment. Those who recollected him gave
several instances Of his sagacIiy, amongst Others
that of his knowledge OF, and intimacy with, sew
eral of the coachmen with his particular fayOrles
and friends he would frequently take short Jaunts
ont on the coach top, until he met some other
coach whose driver he also knew. passing III q
homeward direction when he would immediately
change coaches and return.
a
observ alton in ravens is given i'll the weekly peri
odical The Saturday Mdgdzine. which from It's ap-
plicaton to the subject before us we here repeat.
II occurred many years ago. at the led Lion lnn
UungerfOrd. A gentleman who lodged there thus
tells the story: Coming into the inward says
he my chase ran over ana bruised the leg OF q
favOrite Newfoundland dog, and while We were eX-
aiming the injury, Ralph. the raven, looked on
also aud evidently making his remarks on
what was doing; tor the minute the dog was tied
up under the manger with my horse, Ralph not
ONLY visited him. but brought him bones. and at
tended HIM with particular marks of Kindness.
observed it to the osler who told me That the BIRD
had been brought no with the dog anu that the
affection between them was mutual, and all the
ne ghbOrhOOd had been witnesses OF the many acts
Of kindness performed by the one to the other
Ralphs friend. the dog. IN course Oh tlne lau tno
misfortune TO break his leg. and during the long
period of his confinement, the raven waited on HIM
constantly. carried him his provisions, and scarcely
ever lett him alone. One night by accident, the
stable door had been shut, and Ralph had been de-
prlyed of his friends company all night; but the
oster found, in the morning. the door so pecked
away that had il not been opened, III another nOur
Ralph would have made his own entrance. The
landlord not only confirmed the ostlers account,
bur mentioned many other acts of kindness shown
by this bid to all dogs in general. but more par
ticulaTly to manned or wounded ones"
But. however attentive they may be &c dogs,
"a in this case or to men, IN the preceding one,
the following instance of shrewd. cunning shows
that they are ready enough, when It suits their
interest, to trick each other. AT the Geological
Gardens. in the Regent Iark, London. Two ravens
we're kept in one large cage or pen; YIsitOr pass
ing by threw them two pieces OF bun, when one or
them Immediately Jumped from his perch, ana pc
fore his cOmrade could reach either OF tnen ne hau
both secure in his beak and had gained his former
position the perch holding them un til he saw MS
comrade at the further end OF the cage ne Then
flew down buried of the pieces, which he care
fully covered with gravel, and Jumping back 10
his perch with the other piece, deVoured IL. ne
then hoped down for the other piece, ana regain
ing his perch a second time, consumed that, much
to the annoy nce of his companion. whom he thus
artfuliY and cleverly contryed to outwIt'