the Raven, or Crow-kind, in ornithology, a genus of birds, of the order of piece, the distinguishing characteristics of which are these: The beak is convex and cultrated; the nostrils are covered with bristly feathers; the tongue is forked and cartilaginous; and the feet are of the walking kind. The species are nineteen, viz. 1. The hottentotus, is of a greenish black colour, with long mystaches, and an equal tail. It is found at the Cape of Good Hope. 2. The corax, or raven of English authors, is black, with a blueish back, and a roundish tail. It is a native of Europe, and feeds upon carrion: it is much given to theft, and may be taught to utter articulate sounds. 3. The corone, or carrion-crow, is of a black blueish colour, with the prime wing-feathers sharp, and a round tail; it lives upon carrion and fruits, and is a native of Europe. 4. The frugilegus, or rook, is black, with an ash-coloured forehead, and a roundish tail. The rooks assemble in flocks, and infest the corn-fields: many of them sleep together in the same tree, by which means they are easily taken. 5. The cornix, or royston-crow, is ash-coloured, with the throat, wings, and tail black. It feeds upon worms, snails, frogs, caterpillars, &c. 6. The monedula, or jack-daw, is of a dullish colour, with a hoary hindhead; and the wings, tail, and forehead black. It is a native of Europe. They flock together in winter, sleep, and build their nests in old turrets and walls. 7. The glandarius, or jay, has blueish wings, with transverse black and white lines; and the body is variegated with an iron-colour. It is a native of Europe, and feeds upon nuts, corn, and sometimes small birds. 8. The cribratus, or blue-crested jay, has the covert feathers of the wings marked with transverse black lines, a blueish body, and a black collar. It is a native of North America. 9. The cayanus, is of a violet colour above, and white below, with a black front and throat, and the point of the tail white: the feathers of the hind head are erect and rigid. It is a native of Cayenne. 10. The caryocatactes, is brown, and spotted with white; the wings and tail are black; the prime tail-feathers are white at the points, but the intermediate ones have a worn appearance. It is a native of Europe, and feeds upon nuts. 11. The baliocassius is of a greenish black colour, with a forked tail. It is found on the Philippine isles. 12. The afer, is of a violet blackish colour, and has a wedge-like tail. It is a native of Africa. 13. The pica, or magpie, is variegated with black and white, and its tail is shaped like a wedge. They build their nests in trees in a very artificial manner; the outside consists of thorns both above and below, leaving only a hole for their entrance. They lay five or six eggs, which are pale and spotted: they feed upon small birds, &c., and carefully lay up superfluous food till they become hungry again. They may be learned to talk pretty distinctly.

14. The senegalensis, is of a blackish violet colour, with black legs, and a wedge-shaped tail. It is a native of Senegal. 15. The brachyurus, is green below, with yellow lines on the head, and white spots on the wings. It is found in the Molucca isles. 16. The canadensis, is of a dusky colour, with a yellow forehead, and white below: it has a roundish tail, and is a native of Canada. 17. The pyrrhocorax, is blackish, with a yellow beak, and black legs. 18. The graculus, is of a blackish violet colour, with a yellow back and legs. 19. The eremita, is greenish, with a yellowish head, a small crest on the back part of the head, and a red beak and legs. The three last are natives of Switzerland.

Raven, in astronomy. See Vol. I. p. 437.

Roman antiquity, a military engine, or rather gallery, moveable at pleasure by means of pulleys, chiefly used in boarding the enemy's ships, to cover the men.