Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/507

■RAY splcij spirit, as uiredeJ for Red Hal alia. Tne chief use of this expensive iiqnor is, for iinnirting an agreea- ble ilavoar to puJdings, pies, &c. ; though, we fear, too many avail themselves of such pretext, and thus become habitual votaries to dram-drinking ; than which, no- thing Is fraught with more mis- •chicvous effcvl^^ts, especially to te- males. — S.^e Bkaxoy and Gix. ■ RATfLE- SNAKE-ROOT, or Pol fi gala Sdne-sa, I,, is a native of North America, wlience it has bv-en introduced i.'.to Britain. It is propagated by planting the roots in beds of light rich earth, and sheltering them from the seve- rity of the wiiiter, by means of tanners' bark. — This plant flowers in Britain in the month of July; liaving recftived its name from, its supposed efficacy in curing the bite of rattle-snakes. — On account of its powerfully emetic and pur- gative pnjperties, it has been found of great service in pleurisies ; though we consider it a very ha- zardous remedy, that cannot with safety be taken in pleuritic, or other inflammatory aflections, un- less prescribed by a professional man. — As tliis root promotes ex- pei^loration, and the secretion ot urine, it has often been advantage- ously given both to the asthma- tic, in whom pii nitons humoai's abound, and to the dropsical, in doses of 10 or 15 grains, combined with a little .sugar ; but such pa- tients must observe a strittiy cool- ing regimen, and neither indulge in wine nor animal food. RAVEN, or Connis crnax, L. a well-known British bird, about two feet in length, and weighing in general three pounds : it much re- sembles a crow, but is of a blacker R A V 479 colour, finely glossed with a rich blue. The raven is a very docile bird, and may bs trained to fowling like ■hawks ; to fetch and carry small objects in a manner similar to spa- niels ; it may also be taught to prattle like a parrot, and to imitate tlie human voice in singing. — Th'C female constructs her nest in high trees, early in the spring, laving froi q 3 to 6 eggs of a pale bluish-greeu colour, with brown spots. Ravens are proverbially addid^d to theft, often secreti^ig coins, sil- ver spoons, and other glitteriiVg substances. They frequent the vi- cinity of great towns, where they devour carcasses and impurities, which would otherwise prove a nuisance. Notwilhstaudiug these useful services, they fr(-(]aen!ly oc- casion havoc among hares, rabbits, ge^-se, duck'5, chickens, andyoui^g lambs which have bee-ii dropjyid in a weak state, — Their note is dis- mal ; their scent remarkably acute, and they are, by some authors, sup- posed to attain the age of lOO years. The flesh of ravens, though rank and unsavoury, is eaten by the Greenlanders, who also employ the feathered skins as a warm un- der-covering. — The quills of these birds are likewise of service in draw- ing, writing, and especially to mu- sical instrument makers, for gfiviiio- melody to the lower notes of iiarp- .sichords; for which purpose, they are often sold at the price of 12s. per hundred. There is a simple method of tak- ing ravens pra6tised on the Conti- nent : A strong sheet of paper is turned in the form of a sugar-loaf; the inside of which must be smear- ed Vvdth bird-lime, and a small piece of meat fastened to the nar-