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
Results 1-5 of 17
Page 9
... magpies , jays , cloughs , nutcrackers , and other birds . These birds belong to the order Passeriformes , popularly known as ' songbirds ' , even though not all the members are musical . The family Corvidae probably originated in ...
... magpies , jays , cloughs , nutcrackers , and other birds . These birds belong to the order Passeriformes , popularly known as ' songbirds ' , even though not all the members are musical . The family Corvidae probably originated in ...
Page 14
... in appearance is the jackdaw , which , at a length of only about 25 centimetres or 10 inches , is far smaller than the rest . It has a short , pointed bill and is grey about THE MAGPIE . ' The Magpie ' from a 1911 14.
... in appearance is the jackdaw , which , at a length of only about 25 centimetres or 10 inches , is far smaller than the rest . It has a short , pointed bill and is grey about THE MAGPIE . ' The Magpie ' from a 1911 14.
Page 15
Boria Sax. THE MAGPIE . ' The Magpie ' from a 1911 British Natural History . Although not considered ' true crows ' , magpies share the crows ' reputation for intelligence . the shoulders and upper breast . The most dramatic feature of ...
Boria Sax. THE MAGPIE . ' The Magpie ' from a 1911 British Natural History . Although not considered ' true crows ' , magpies share the crows ' reputation for intelligence . the shoulders and upper breast . The most dramatic feature of ...
Page 18
... magpie ' is , according to one theory , a combination of ' Margaret ' and ' pied ' , suggesting a brightly dressed lady . The Latin name of the bird , however , is Pica pica , which is probably an evocation of its voice . The ...
... magpie ' is , according to one theory , a combination of ' Margaret ' and ' pied ' , suggesting a brightly dressed lady . The Latin name of the bird , however , is Pica pica , which is probably an evocation of its voice . The ...
Page 23
... magpies and jays that are most renowned as chat- terboxes . This has often given them reputations as tricksters in cultures from North America to China . Their verbal facility has also earned them reputations as lovers , demons and ...
... magpies and jays that are most renowned as chat- terboxes . This has often given them reputations as tricksters in cultures from North America to China . Their verbal facility has also earned them reputations as lovers , demons and ...
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 |
Other editions - View all
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.