I'm posting this on behalf of Robert Goldman, who has been having
trouble sending messages to the list.
Has someone ever come across any references to crows being, if
not immortal, then very long lived and not dying of disease or
other natural causes?
At Rām. 7.18. 23–25 Dharma (Yama) who had hidden from
Rāvaṇa by taking the form of a crow, blesses the bird as follows.
“Then, O
Rāma, King Dharma addressed that crow, which now was perched on
the beam of the
eastern sacrificial hall: ‘O bird, I am pleased with you. Now
hear my words of
gratitude. Since
I
am pleased, those various ailments with which I afflict other
creatures shall
have no power over you. Of this there can be no doubt. ‘Through
my boon, O sky-going bird, you shall have no fear of death.
Indeed, so long as
men do not kill you, you shall live forever."
We haven't been able
to locate any other literary or folkloric source for this.