Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/376

1542 and this he renders still more melancholy by his dismal croak : thus Lady Macbeth says, on the news of Duncan's approach.

In its feeding it is much less dainty than the owl : the most filthy carrion, or even human flesh, affording it a sumptuous banquet. A most graphic description of the distressed state of an army, and of the ravens lurking after it to feed upon the dead, is given in 'Henry the 5th.'

And then comes, in 'Macbeth' the story of their powers of augury and discovery of evil.

Without entering into the merits of these qualifications, it is certain that the Picae are more sagacious and exhibit a greater amount of intelligence than any other birds. The tricks they acquire, as well as the articulation of words and sentences, by moderate tuition, is truly surprising. Added to this, most of the tribe have a remarkably cun- ning expression of the eye, and there can be little doubt that these circumstances, combined with its sombre plumage and gloomy habits, have originally gained for the raven the reputation it enjoys as an augur and prognosticator of events to come.

The bird which next claims our attention is the Cuckoo, and the fol- lowing lines descriptive of its appearance occur in 'Love's Labour Lost.'