The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-03-04
THE RAVENS OF ALASKA.
FEATHERED scAvENGERs OF OUR
ARCTIC TERRITORY.

Their Movements and Habits-HoldA
ing n Conclave-Their Peculiar
BilI-Why Natives Venerate Them.
The raven is bird deserving of re-
spectful attention. He is a bird of very
ancient lineage, dating back to the Del
uge, if not to Eden, and appearing in
the history of England as the prominent
figure on the banner of the hardy Viking
devastators. In Europe and among tho
Mohammedans there is a widespread dis
like to ravens; in fact they are regarded
as birds of i'll omen aud carrion feeders.
But quite the reverse is thought of the
bird in Southeastern Alaska, where 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 sew
eral visits to the southeastern and other
portions of the Territory of Alaska, men
toned to San Francisco Chronicle re.
porter the following facts about the
ravens 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 hill top surround
ing the harbor they breed unmolested,
and were it not for their scavenger work
the fish offal that lays around the shore
and house would soon engender disease.
The Alaska raven is fine looking bird, as
large as a turkey, and upon closer ac-
quaintance real handsome fellow. His
coat is indeed black, but of black
glossier and more rich than silk and
softer than velvet, while in a semi-shade
the feathers are tinged with that pc
culiar color so often seen ON well-pre-
served blue-black bronze. 1t is very
funny to see these birds holding, as-it
were, conclave. Ten or q dozen alight
on the ground and walk to the meeting
place with a stately, erect step, their
every movement cool and assured. Then
an OLD bird steps gravely into the middle
and the meeting begins with a series of
cultural and harsh croaks, which gradu-
ally swell in volume until the entire lot
of birds have joined in the debate.
Along comes a dog and for him they scat
ter, resuming their positions when he
passes, until the meeting again termi-
mates, and they fly off to the beach and
hills. These birds are very seldom
killed unless it be by some sailor in pure
wantonness. If you examine the bills
of these ravens the peculiar construction
is remarkable. They are a combination
of chlssel, scissors, dagger and gimlet.
The bill forms an important factor in
the ravens existence, for he has to dig
on the beach for clans, bore the hard
shell by repeated chipping, and again in
pure mischief he will tear and break
anything that his bright and unerring
eye lights upon.
''Just as soon as the bright sunlight
appears the ravines 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 sundown
invites them to rest. The raven is a fine
flyer. On the wing his movements are
well under command; with strong, de.
cided beats he winnows the air fast or
slow, never seeming in hurry. But if
occasion requires the raven can travel at
express speed, and when he sees another
bird feasting on some delicate morsel of
otfal down he comes from mid-air, with
his discordant cav, ready to share or
steal the prize.
"The same characteristics are visible
all along the Southern coast of Alaska
to S:tka. The natives from Yakutat BAY
through the network of islands as far as
British Columbia have an ancient legend
that the raven was the bird that brought
light from darkness when the world was
created. On this account they venerate
it, and the totem of raven is regarded
as denoting the most illustrious de-
scended family.
''The raven does not appear to migrate,
as the residents all over that portion of
Alaska where the birds are found state
they remain throughout the winter"