West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-11-14
A PIERCE COMBAT.

Notwithstanding the character OF
/ nmidity usually ascribcd TO the hare e.
is really a pugnacious animal. and dis
plays no little courage i'm encounters
with those of its own kind. or with
animals of nearly equal powers. IL Is
especially valiant in the defense of its
cunning little leverets-the name given
| young harcS.
The raven is found in nearly ali parts
oi the world, aud is au object of aver
sion everywhere. The Icolanders de.
TEST II because it not only seizes on
! their young lambs and eider-ducks. but
! also commits great depredations among
the hShes laid out TO dry upon the
/ shore. The raven will also destroy
! egSS' anu not unfrequently attacks
weak or sickly animals, invariably
attack -
In the gloomy Scandinavian mvthol.
I ogy, however, tho raven occupies n
/ rank equal to that of tho eagle i'm tho
more cheerful fables of ancient Greece
/ 10 was dedicated TO Odin, who. as tho
traditional history of Iceland informs
US hao two ravens, which were LET
loose every morning to gather tidings
Oh what was going ON in the world. and
winch on returning in the evening.
! perthed upon Odin's shoulders Ia
whisper the news in his ear; the name
Oh one was Hugin, or spirit, of the
other, Numin. or memory.
II Is cunning, mischievOus and very
| troublesome bird when tanned, as he Is
iona OF stealing and hiding things.
which are not of use 10 him or which
can not be devoured He Is also very
! sagacious. Goldsmith tells us that he
may be trained for fowling like hawk:
taught to fetch and carry like a spaniel.
taught TO speak like n parrot; but the
! most extraordinary of all is that he may
be taught 10 sing like "A man. The poct
referred To says ''I have heard n raven
sing The Black Joke with great dis
tlnctness, truth and humor"
roe, therefore, is correct when i'm his
most ingenious poem, The Raven"
ne makes the bird say: "Nevermorc."
Ravens live to be very old. They
have been known TO live nearly one
hundred years. A writer makes one.
Perched on n limb, speak TO listener
OF his OWE years past and those TO
come:
"hen | was hatched my father set this
An acorn then. It's fqll hope to see.
century after thou ha Z ceased to be
The raven is the bird first mentioned
in the Bible, where il is named in the
account of the Flood. 1t was doubtless
sent forth first from the ark on acc cunt
oil It's sagacity and hardness, and con
sequent ability TO provide for himself
| Where other ieathered creatures would
certainly have perished.
| Inc color OF the raven il n uniform
black, with more or less of metallic ius-
ter which Is conspicuous particularly
IN the elongated throat-fealhers of the
male. IL is reckoned bird of III omen.
both on account of its color and its ex
tremely harsh, croaking voice. which
/ may sometimes bc heard. i'm fine wealth.
er, as Il coming from the sky the
raven being a bird oil powerful wing.
and often soaring very high in the air.
IL was very ancicntiy noticed and
modern naturalists confirm the fact.
that the ravens soon drive ont their
! young ones from iheir nest. obigino
them to seek their Owd food. and TO be.
come early hardened 20 their rugged
/ life. oe0
A dog which hal long been greatly
! annoyed by one OF these birds. which
! trequented his masters farm. suddenly
gave up all attempt at retaliation. and
was repeatedly seen proceeding on his
way with apparent uncOncern. while
his tormentor was evidently using every
! means To provoke the usual snarl and its
| accompanying unsuccessful sprin =. The
dog was sagacious one nevertheless.
| though seemingly in despair Of ever be-
ing able to grapp!e with his enemy. and
acted as though he could never again
DC enticei TO forget his own want Of
\ wings. Consequently, the raven.
] IA a. -. A. s
| time, grew bOlder and bOlder. hODpino
along almost beneath his very nose. and
/ sometimes even striking him with his
l claws.
One day, however, as the dot was
/ passing along a low wall. the raven
/ thought TT TO repeat the performance.
/ keeping most provOkingly n little i'm
/ advance, and occasionally VARYING the
/ amusement with crOak or n sly pounce.
lbc dog trotted along as briskly as
\ usual, looking neither To- the right nor
\ to the left. Then the raven. making n
/ snort circuit, again assailed him from
| above, and, passing over his head. was
/ about TO alight deliberately on the wall.
| when the dog, making a mighty bound
/ forward, seized his enemy by the wing
and tore him literally to shreds
| q friend OF the writer we'll remembers
fight no once witnessed in England.
when a boy, between n large raven and
/ a hare
my uucle,' he said, "at whose farm
house ] resided while attending a pri-
| vate school in the ne'Qhborhood came
back from pasture where he had been
/ to salt cattle, one day, with the intelH.
/ geucc that he bad seen a large raven i'm
/ quest Of a weak lamb Ho had driven
| him away by hallooing vigorously. but
\ soon after saw the Same bird hunting
| other lambs down p hillside. striking M
I their heads repeatedly, and cndeavor-
/ ing TO drive them into the stream be-
\ low q"
The old gentleman expressed his
\ determination TO have his nephew
I make q still hunt for this crafty
and dangerous bird az an early