THE raven is a sly bird, and has not many friends. He will steal from
you, if he can. He can crow like a cock, mew like a cat, and bark like a
dog; and sometimes he will imitate the sound of the rattle with which
the farmer tries to frighten him away from the corn.

The raven, like the parrot, can learn to talk a little. He is even
capable of learning a little Latin. Dr. J. Franklin's raven, which was
named Jocko, pronounced the word _aqua_ (water) distinctly; but he much
preferred wine to water. Sad to say, Jocko was a toper.

"One day," says the doctor, "my housekeeper placed a glass of red wine
on the table: in an instant the bird plunged in his beak, and began
sucking up the wine, drop by drop. The housekeeper, fearing he would
break the glass, took it away; but at this Jocko was very angry, and
tried to peck at her face.

"If three glasses are placed on the table,--one of water, another of
beer, and the third of wine,--Jocko will leave the first two, and will
pay his respects only to the glass of wine."

[Illustration]

The raven has a strong memory, great prudence, and some capacity for
reasoning. The keen watchfulness with which he will regard a man armed
with a gun has often been noticed.

A traveller in the arctic regions relates that he once saw some ravens
outwit a dog. While the dog was at his dinner, they would make him
angry, and entice him away in pursuit of them; and, when they had led
him some distance, they would fly quickly back, and snatch up the best
bones, before he could prevent it.

That was hardly honest, was it? The raven, you see, does not set a good
example. He drinks wine, he fights, and he steals. But I suppose he
knows no better, and has not been taught, like you and me, that to do
such things is very wrong.

ALFRED SELWYN.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Music]

CHIPPEREE, CHIP.

Words by G. COOPER. Music by T. CRAMPTON.

1.

I once knew a couple that liv'd in a wood,--
Chipperee, chipperee, chip!
And up in a tree-top their dwelling it stood,--
Chipperee, chipperee, chip!
The summer it came and the summer it went,--
Chipperee, chipperee, chip!
And there they lived on though they never paid rent,--
Chipperee, chipperee, chip!

2.

When winter came on with its frost and its snow,--
Chipperee, chipp