Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-09-30

lFrom Bishop Stsnley's History Of Birds

4
A few years ago gentleman, near Chapel
le-Fri.h, in Derbyshire. took a young raven
from its nest, and kept il in an outbuilding
for some months its wings were then clip
ped, and it was allowed to go at large. 1t
soon became well known for a mile around,
regularly visiting every farmhouse within
that distance whenever a pig was killed,
when it was always rewarded with some tit
bits. After the death of its owner, the
raven was given to a surgeon, resident in
Stockport, Cheshire, who kept it chained by
the leg for about twelve months he then
gave it its liberty, and as before il wandered
about near home. but not with the same
success, for its thigh was one day broken BY
some idle, thoughtless boys, who threw
stones at it. The fracture was reduced. the
raven recovered, and then again took TO
rambling about for few weeks, when il dis
appeared altogether, and was supposed to
have met with an untimely end--when about
a fortnight after il had been missed, the
news arrived Of his safe return to his old
residence at Chapel-le- distant four
teen miles, where il was allowed to remain,
and where it lived for many years
A writer in The Naturaiisf's Magazine
says that he remembers seeing on a post
near the Elephant and Castle Inn, at which
such multitude Of coaches used to stop an
inscription on Ralph" raven of great
celebrity. who had been in his DAYS dis
tinguishsd member Of the Elephant and
Castle establishment. Those who recollected
him gave several instances of his sagacity.
amongst others, that Of his knowledge OF,
and intimacy with. several Of the coachmen;
with his particular favori,es and friends he
would frequently take short jaunts out On
the coach top, until he met some other
coach, whose driver he also knew, passing
in a homeward direction, when he would
immediately change coaches and return.
A still more curious anecdote of attach
men, and observation in ravens is given in
the weekly periodical, The Saturday Maga-
sine, which from its application TO the sub
ject before US we her. repeat II occurred
many years ago, at the Red Lion Inn, Hun
gerford. A gentleman who lodged there
thus tells the story: Coming into the inn
yard" says he, ''my chaise ran over and
bruised the leg Of favorite Newfoundland
dog, and while We were examining the in
jury, Ralph, the raven. looked on also. and
was evidently making his remarks on what
was doing for the minute the dog was tied
up under the manger with my horse. Ralph
not only visited him, but brought him
bones, and attended him with particular
marks of kindness. observed i, to the
ostler, who told me that the bird had been
brought up with the dog, and that the aftec
ton between them was mutual, and all the
neighborhood had been witnesses of the
many acts of kindness performed by the one
to the other. Ralph's friend, the dog, in
course Of time had the misfortune to break
his leg, and during the long period of his
conhne ment, the raven waited on him con-
s,antly. carried him his provisions, and
scarcely ever left him alone One night, by
accident the stable door had been shut, and
Ralph had been deprived of his friends
company all night but the ostler found, in
the morning., the door so pecked away, that
had it not been opened, in another hour
Ralph would have made his own entrance.
The landlord not only confirmed the os,lcr's
acc cunt, but mentioned many other acts of
kindness shown BY the bird to all dogs in
general, but more particularly TO MANNED or
wounded ones
But, however attentive they may be TO
dogs, as in this case, or TO men, as in the
preceding one, the following instance of
shrewd cunning shows that they are ready
enough, Nutn IL lLtt[ interest, 10 tfICk
each other. A, the Geological Gardens, in
the Regent's Park, London, two ravens
were kept in one large cage or pen visitor
passing by threw them two pieces Of bun,
when one of them immediately jumped from
his perch. and before his comrade could
reach either Of them. he had both secure in
his beak. and had regained his former posi-
ton on the perch. holding them until he
saw his comrade at the further end Of the
cage; he then flew down, buried one of the
pieces, which he carefully covered with
gravel, and jumping back to his perch with
the other piece, devoured it. He then hop
ped down for the other piece, and regaining
his perch a second time, consumed that,
much TO the annoyance of his companion,
whom he thus artfully and cleverly contriyed
to outwIt.