CrowThough not generally perceived as graceful, crows are remarkably so—a single curve undulates from the tip of the bird’s beak to the end of its tail. They take flight almost without effort, flapping their wings easily and ascending into the air like spirits. Crow by Boria Sax is a celebration of the crow and its relatives in myth, literature, and life. Sax takes readers into the history of crows, detailing how in a range of cultures, from the Chinese to the Hopi Indians, crows are bearers of prophecy. For example, thanks in part to the birds’ courtship rituals, Greeks invoked crows as symbols of conjugal love. From the raven sent out by Noah to the corvid deities of the Eskimo, from Taoist legends to Victorian novels and contemporary films, Sax’s book ranges across history and culture and will interest anyone who has ever been intrigued, puzzled, annoyed, or charmed by these wonderfully intelligent birds. |
From inside the book
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Page 11
... , in addition to being smart , had a sense of humour . A raven illustrated in a 19th - century book of natural history . The raven is by far the largest and most imposing of corvids . 21- A blue jay , after J. J. Audubon ,. 11.
... , in addition to being smart , had a sense of humour . A raven illustrated in a 19th - century book of natural history . The raven is by far the largest and most imposing of corvids . 21- A blue jay , after J. J. Audubon ,. 11.
Page 23
... every year . Those crows that have not yet reached breeding age or have failed to find a mate will stay with their parents and help to raise the next brood , assisting An illustration of a Blue Jay from Eaton's Birds of 23.
... every year . Those crows that have not yet reached breeding age or have failed to find a mate will stay with their parents and help to raise the next brood , assisting An illustration of a Blue Jay from Eaton's Birds of 23.
Page 24
Boria Sax. An illustration of a Blue Jay from Eaton's Birds of New York . Its bright colours and loud call help make this bird one of the most noticeable in North America . Roue Agassiz Fuertes especially in the building of nests . A ...
Boria Sax. An illustration of a Blue Jay from Eaton's Birds of New York . Its bright colours and loud call help make this bird one of the most noticeable in North America . Roue Agassiz Fuertes especially in the building of nests . A ...
Page 25
... ' The Rook ' ( Corvus frugilegus ) , an illustration by Jann Sepp of C. 1790. The rough , bare skin of this bird's face can make it appear somewhat like a fierce , helmeted warrior . A Hooded Crow from a 19th- century book of natural. 25.
... ' The Rook ' ( Corvus frugilegus ) , an illustration by Jann Sepp of C. 1790. The rough , bare skin of this bird's face can make it appear somewhat like a fierce , helmeted warrior . A Hooded Crow from a 19th- century book of natural. 25.
Page 27
... of the deceased to scavengers , particularly crows and other birds , lasted until the 1950s . To make the dead easier for birds to eat , the mountain people would cut A satiric illustration by J. J. Grandville from Les Animaux 27.
... of the deceased to scavengers , particularly crows and other birds , lasted until the 1950s . To make the dead easier for birds to eat , the mountain people would cut A satiric illustration by J. J. Grandville from Les Animaux 27.
Contents
Mesopotamia | 31 |
Egypt Greece and Rome | 38 |
The European Middle Ages and Renaissance | 55 |
Asia | 80 |
Native American Culture | 90 |
The Romantic Era | 102 |
Lord of the Crows | 128 |
The Twentieth Century and Beyond | 144 |
164 | |
Bibliography | 168 |
Websites | 175 |
Associations | 177 |
Acknowledgements | 178 |
Photo Acknowledgements | 179 |
180 | |
Timeline | 162 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ages and Renaissance American crow animals Apollo appear archaic associated Athena Badbh battle beak became behaviour birds body carrion crow Celtic colour common raven corone corvids creatures crow Corvus crow or raven crows and ravens culture dead death deity divination Emperor Ernest Thompson Seton especially Europe fable farmers feathers fields flew genus Corvus Ghost Dance goddess Gogh Greek Grimm Brothers heaven hero hooded crow Horapollo human illustration Indians Inuit Irish J. J. Grandville jackdaw Jacob de Voragine killed king legend live London Lorenz magpie medieval Middle Ages myths Native Americans natural history nests nineteenth century Noah numbers O'Casey Odin painted pecking perched perhaps poem popular probably prophet raven or crow Roman rooks scarecrow scaring scientists Seton shows Silverspot sometimes story symbol tale tell told traditions tree twentieth century wings wolves wrote young
Popular passages
Page 29 - One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a wedding, Four for a birth.