The Strangest Things in the World: A Book About Extraordinary Manifestations of NatureHenry, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert)
History
The Strangest Things in the World: A Book About Extraordinary Manifestations of Nature
Henry, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert)
Animal behavior; Natural history
Raven “language” has been intensively studied by the noted
ornithologist, Dr. Arthur Cleveland Bent. Citing various bird
observers, he lists the following calls:
A distinct, hollow, sepulchral laugh, haw-haw-haw-haw, which may be
heard at almost any time.
A series of “crawks” sounded while on the wing, interspersed with a
musical note that sounds like ge-lick-ge-lee.
A strange call like thing-thung-thung which is similar to the mellow
twang of a tuning fork.
Another expression has a metallic, liquid-like quality similar to the
song of the red-winged blackbird, although greatly magnified in volume.
Ravens have a large range of notes from the melancholy croaks with
which they chiefly are associated to striking imitations of other
birds, such as geese and gulls. One of these birds will talk to itself
for hours with a curious gargling sound. He becomes so absorbed in his
own conversation that it often is not difficult to steal up on him
during such a soliloquy.
“The raven,” Dr. Bent observes, “is one of our most sagacious
birds—crafty, resourceful, adaptable, and quick to profit by
experience. Throughout most of its range it is exceeding shy and wary.
It is almost impossible to get within gunshot of one in the open. Yet
it knows full well where and when it is safe. About northern villages,
where it is appreciated as a scavenger and seldom molested, it is as
tame as any barnyard bird.” This is especially true in Greenland where
ravens infest American air bases.
Although in the north the raven frequents the seacoast and villages,
from Pennsylvania southward it is entirely a mountain bird, usually
living above 3,000 feet. From these heights the birds sometimes descend
to the valleys, or even the islands along the coast, to forage among
the colonies of sea birds. Most of them prefer to dwell among rocks and
resort to perpendicular cliffs and to escarpments thrust above forests
on the flanks of mountains.
_Worms With Hypodermic Needles_
Despite their microscopic size, nematodes (soil worms), are highly
organized animals. They have muscles, quite specialized organs for
feeding, a digestive system, a nervous system with a brain, and a
well-developed reproductive system. Sexes are clearly differentiated.
The creatures have evolved a long way from the primeval worm.
Eggs may be deposited in the soil, or in the plant on which the
nematode feeds. In these eggs the immature forms, the larvae, develop
and eventually hatch. If appropriate plants are available, they may
begin to feed immediately. They develop through several distinct
stages. At the end of each of these cycles a moult occurs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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