The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-05-23
rnn RAvrNs or A1AsKA.

They Arc TO the North What the Tur-
key Buzzards Arc to the South.
The raven is a bird deserving of re.
spectful attention. He is a bird of very
ancient lineage, dating back to the
Deluge, il not to Eden, and appearing
In the history of Engla d as the prom.
hent figure on the banner of the hardy
Nckiug devastatora In Europe and
among the Mohammedans there is
Widespread dislike to ravens; in fact,
they a'e regarded as birds Of i'll omen
and carrion feeders But quite the re-
verse is thought of the bird in south
eastern Alaska, where the natives re-
gard it as very unfortunate event
should one be killed.
Ono of the officers of the United
States revenue cutter service, who has
paid several visits to the southeastern
and other portions of the Territory OF
Alaska, mentioned to a Chronicle re-
porter the following facts about the
raven of our Artic province:
My first experience with ravens in
Alaska was at OOnalaska. There tho
birds fly around the beach and village
IN large numbers On the hiltops sur
rounding the harbor they breed unmo-
Tested, and were it not for their scaven.
ger work the fish offal that lays around
the shore and houses would soon engen.
der disease. The Alaska raven is line
looking bird, as large as a turkey, and
upon closer acquaintance a real hand.
some fellow. His coat is indeed black,
but of black glossier and more rich
than silk and softer than velvet, while
IN a semi shade tile feathers are tinged
with that peculiar cnlor so often seen on
well preserved blue black bronze.
1t is very funny to see these birds
holding, as it were, conolave Ten OF
dozen alight on the ground and walk
to tile meeting place with stately, erect
step, their every movement cool and as.
slred Then AN old lird steps gravely
into the mid lie. aud the meeting begins
with u series of cultural and harsh
cloak, which 6 gHdualiy swell in vol.
une until the cn.lre lot of birds have
joined in the debate. Along comes a
dog, and for him they scatter, resuming
their positions, when he pusses, until
the meeting again terminates aud they
hy off to the beach and hills. These
birds are very seldom killed unless it be
by some suilor in pure wantonness. If
you examine the bills of these ravens
the peculiar construction is remarkable
They are a combination Of a chisel,
scissors, dagger, and gimlet The bill
forms an important factor in the raw.
ems existence, for he has to dig on the
beach for CLANS, bore tile hard shell by
repeated chipping, and again in pure
mischief he will tear and break any
thing that his bright and unerring eye
lights upon.
Just rs soon as the bright sunlight
appears the ravens leave their roosting
place on the hilltops for the beach line.
and over the village and shores of the
bay they fly and wander until sundown
invites them to rest The raven is a fine
flyer. On the wind his movements are
well under command. Withstrong, de-
cided beats lie winnows the air fast or
slow, never seeming in hurry. But if
occasion requires the raven can travel
at express speed. and when it sees an.
other bird feasting on some delicate
morsel OF offal down lie comes from
midair with his discordant cav, ready
70 share or steal the prize.
"The same characteristics are visible
all along the southern coast Of Alaska
TO Sitka TIE natives from Yakutat
Bay through the network Of islands as
far as British Columbia have an ancient
legend that the raven was tile Lird that
brought light from darkness when the
world was created. On this account
they Venerate it, aud the totem or raven
Is regarded as denuting tie most illustri.
Gus descended family.
The vendoes n0tappear to miqrnte
All the residents an over that portion Of
Alaska where the birds Rre found state
that they remain throughout tie win.
llE ".-l6a ftnnCiaco Chronicle