the Raven or Crow kind. See index to ORNITHOLOGY.

Corvus (Raven), in Astronomy, a constellation of the southern hemisphere, containing in Ptolemy's catalogue seven stars, in Tycho's the same number, and in the British catalogue nine.

name given to several kinds of military engines used by the ancients both in sieges and in naval engagements, and so called from their supposed resemblance to the beak of a raven. Of the first kind was the corvus demolitor, for pulling down walls piecemeal (Vitruvius, x. 19). Another was the terrible engine spoken of by Tacitus (Hist. iv. 30), which appears to have been a kind of revolving crane, set upon the wall of a fortified place, and so contrived that its grappling-hooks could be made to descend suddenly among the besiegers, carry a man up into the air, and set him down within the walls. But the most famous of these machines was the corvus invented by the Romans for the purpose of enabling them to cope with the Carthaginian fleet, and by means of which they obtained a signal victory off Mylae in Sicily, B.C. 260. A very minute but obscure account of this machine is given by Polybius (i. 22). Its construction and mode of application appear to have been as follows:—Upon the prow of each vessel was erected a round wooden pillar 24 feet in height, and about nine inches in diameter, upon the top of which was fixed a block or pulley. To this piece of timber was fitted a kind of wooden stage or platform, four feet in breadth, and about 36 feet in length, which was well framed and cramped together with iron. This platform was moveable about the upright pillar, as on a spindle, and provided with cords by which it could be hoisted up. On either side of the stage lengthwise was a parapet about the height of the knee, which was armed with a sharp iron spike having a ring at the top; so that the whole machine bore some resemblance to a baker's kneading-mill. To this ring was attached a rope, which, passing through the block, hoisted up the corvus, and then allowed it to descend with violence upon the deck of the enemy's ship—sometimes upon the prow and sometimes upon the stern, as occasion served. When they had grappled the enemy with these iron spikes, if the vessels happened to swing broadside to broadside they entered from all parts; but when they attacked them by the bow, they entered two and two by means of this machine as on a bridge, those who went first defending their front with their shields, while those who followed planted their shields upon the parapet, and thus defended the flanks.

Convus, M. Valerius, one of the most illustrious generals of the early Roman republic, was born B.C. 371. The era during which he lived was one of the most memorable in the annals of Roman history, and he himself played the most conspicuous part in it. He was twice dictator, six times consul, and occupied the curule chair twenty-one times. In his various campaigns he defeated successively the Gauls, the Volsci, the Samnites, the Etruscans, and the Marsi. See Roman History.