Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-20
RAVENS OF ALASKA.
They Are to the North What Buzz
yards Are to the South.

The raven is a bird deserving Of re-
pectful attention. He is bird o. very
ancient lineage, dating back to the
Deluge, if not to Eden, and APPEARING
in the history of England as the rromin-
ent figure on the banner of tie hardy
Viking devastatOrs. In Europe and
among the Mohammedans ohere is a
widespread dislike to ra' ms; in fact,
they are regarded as birds of i'll omen
and carbon breeders. But quite the
reverse is thought of the bird in south
eastern Alaska, whe' the natives regard
it as a very unfortunate event should one
be killed
One of the officers of the United States
revenue cutter service, who has paid
several visits to the south, dS'erl and
other portions of the Territory OF Alaska,
mentioned TO q Chronicle reporter the
following facts about the raven Of our
Arctic province:
My first experience with ravens in
Alaska was at OOnalaska. There the
birds fly around the beach and village in
large numbers. On the hilltops sur
rounding the harbor they breed I'M
molested, and were it not for their
.cave1ger work the fish oifal that lays
around the shore and houses would soon
engender disease The Alaska raven is q
Cne looking bird, as large as turkey,
and upon Closer acquaintance a real
handsome fellow His coat is indeed
black, but OF Lack glossicr and more
Sich than silk and softer than velvet,
while in q semi-shadc the feathers are
Hinged with that peculiar color 50 often
seen on weil-preseryed blue-black
bronze.
ut is very funny TO see these bird.
holding, as it were, a conclave Ten OF
dozen alight on the ground and walk
% the meeting place with a STATELY, erect
Itep, their every movement cool and as
iured. Then an old bird steps gravcly
into the middle, and the meeting begins
with a series of cultural and harsh croaks,
which gradually swell in volume until
he entire lot of binds have joined in the
debate. Along comes dog and for him
ihey scatter, resuming their position
when he passes, until the meeting again
terminates, and they fly of to Tie D,<:h
and hills. These birds arc very seldom
killed unless it be by some sailor in pure
wantonness. If you examine the bills OF
these ravens the peculiar cOnstru ction is
remarkable They are a combination Of
chisel, scissors, dagger, and gimlct.
The bill forms important factor in the
IIven's existence, for he has to dig on
The beach for CLANS, bore the hard shell
byrepeateG chipping, and again III pure
mischief he will tear ard break anything
that his bright and unerring eye lights
hpon.
Just as soon as the bright sunlight
appears the ravens leave their rOOsting
places on the hilltops for the beach line,
and over the village and shores of the
bay they fly and wander until shutdown
invites them TO rest. The raven is fine
flyer On the wing his movements are
well under command. With strong,
decided beats he winnows the air fast OF
slow, never seeming in Il hurry But if
occasion requires the raven can travel at
express speed, and when he secs another
bird fcasting on some delicate morscl Of
offal, down he comes from midair with
his discordant cav, ready to share OF
steal the prize.
"The same characteristics are visible
all along the southern coast of Alaska to
Sitka. The natives from Yakutat Bay
through the network Of islands as far as
British Columbia have al ancient
legend that the raven was the bird that
brought light from darkness when the
world was c.eated. On this account
they venerate it, and the totem of a raven
is regarded as denoting the most illus
trious descended family.
"The raven doe, not appear to migrate,
as the residents all over that portion of
Alaska where the birds are found state
they remain throughout the winter