Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/234

 218 RAVEE RAVEN been cast into prison for some offence, he fell into a gloomy fanaticism. He went to Paris, and joined the Feuillants, but was expelled as a fanatic and fool, and returned to Angouleme, where he manifested the most intense hatred of Protestantism. He determined to under- take the murder of Henry IV., whom he was taught to consider the great enemy of the Catholic faith, and went to Paris. On May 14, 1610, about 4 P. M., the king drove to the arsenal to visit Sully, who was sick. In the narrow street La Ferronnerie the carriage was obliged to stop, as the way was blocked up by market wagons. The king was sitting on the left side next to the duke d'Epernon, when Ravaillac, throwing himself upon the right hind wheel, struck twice at him with a dag- ger, the second time plunging the knife into the heart of the king. He was immediately caught with the knife in his hand, acknowl- edged his deed, and after a trial before the parliament of Paris was torn to pieces by horses with unexampled tortures. RAVEE, a river of India, an eastern affluent of the Chenaub, and one of the live rivers to which the Punjaub owes its name. It rises in the Mid-Himalaya range, in the state of Kooloo, W. of the Rotang pass, about lat. 82 30' N., Ion. 77 E., at an elevation of about 16,000 ft. It flows S. W. about 450 m., passing the towns of Chamba, Lahore, and Tulumba. It is the main feeder of the great Baree doab canal. The railway from Lahore to Mooltan, about 40 m. below its junction with the Chenaub, al- most skirts its left bank. Its width varies be- tween 50 and 500 yards, and it attains when fullest in some places a depth of 12 ft., but it is generally fordable three fourths of the year. Its ancient Sanskrit name was Iravati, which is still preserved in the local dialect as Iraotee. Ancient Greek writers call it the Hydraotes or Hyarotis, while Ptolemy gives it the name of Adris. RAVE.V, the largest of the corvidas or crow- family, and the type of the genus corcus (Linn.). In this genus the bill is long and very strong, and arched; the nasal feathers are lengthened and reach about to the middle of the bill, and the nostrils are large, circu- lar, and overhung behind by membrane; the gape without bristles; wings long and pointed, when closed reaching nearly to the tip of the tail and far beyond the under coverts ; the second quill longer than the first, and the third and fourth the longest ; primaries ten, the out- er four sinuated on the inner edge; tail short and nearly even ; tarsi longer than middle toe, scaled in front. The American raven (C. car- nivorut, Bartram) is about 25 in. long with an alar extent of 50, and the bill 3 in. ; the female is a little smaller, but in other respects like the male. The plumage is compact, glossy black, with violet and greenish reflections; the feath- ers of the chin and throat, as in all ravens, are elongated, stiffened, narrow, lanceolate, and with very distinct outlines. It is found over the entire continent, of North America from Labrador to the gulf of Mexico, in some places migratory, but in others (as at Lake Superior and in Canada) braving the cold of the seve- rest winters ; it is most abundant in rocky dis- tricts, near the banks of lakes and rivers, and iri thinly peopled regions. It is generally seen alone or in pairs, but sometimes in small flocks after the breeding season ; the flight is rapid, elevated, and protracted, the bird often sailing for hours at a time at a great height ; on the ground the gait is grave and dignified, with frequent opening of the wings. It is truly omnivorous, but by preference carnivorous, eating small animals of all kinds,. eggs and young birds, carrion, dead fish, mollusks, crus- taceans, insects, nuts, and berries. It is very wary and cunning, and is rarely caught in traps or shot, but it often falls a victim to the poisoned baits set by the trappers for the fur-bearing animals. It breeds, according to latitude, between January and June, making a rude nest on inaccessible cliffs, repairing the same for years in succession; the eggs are four to six, 2 in. long, light greenish blue with numerous light purple and yellowish brown blotches, especially at the larger end ; incuba- tion lasts about three weeks, and the young remain in the nest several weeks before they are able to fly, fed at first on the half digested food disgorged by the parents ; only one brood is raised in a year, and this is bravely nnd successfully defended against the largest birds of prey. It is easily domesticated by kind- ness, and becomes much attached to its mas- ter, following him like a dog ; it can be taught to imitate the human voice and to pronounce a few words with great distinctness ; when irritated or wounded, it strikes savagely with bill and claws. Its flesh is tough and unfit for food ; it disgorges indigestible substances, as bones, hair, and feathers, like birds of prey. Like others of the genus, this species varies much in size and proportions, according to locality, those of the south, contrary to the general rule, being larger than the northern individuals of the same species; this fact has led some to think that the Colorado raven (C. cacalotl, Wagl.) is only a southern variety of the C. carnivorvs, the chief differences being a slightly greater size, longer wings and tail, and a western and southern habitat exclusive- ly. The white-necked raven (C. cryptoleucut, Couch), from Mexico and Texas, is' about 21 in. long, with the feathers cf the neck all round, back, and breast, snow-white at the base. The European ravn (C. corax, Linn.) very much resembles the American in size and pro- portions, and the two have been regarded by Audubon and others as the same, but most modern naturalists consider them distinct; it is about 26 in. long and 52 in alar extent. It is very interesting on account of its habits, and its historical, economical, and superstitious relations ; it is very grave and dignified, saga- cious, courageous, and powerful ; its beak is as