Audubon's Ornithological Biography. 187 



raven spreads his glossy wings and tail, and, as he onward 

 sails, rises higher and higher each bold sweep that he makes. 

 Intent on convincing his mate of the fervour and constancy of 

 his love, he now gently glides beneath her, floats in the 

 buoyant air, or sails by her side. Would that I could de- 

 scribe to you, reader, the many musical inflections by means 

 of which they hold converse together during their amatory 

 excursions ! These sounds, doubtless, express their pure 

 conjugal feelings, confirmed and rendered more intense by 

 long years of happiness in each other's society. Now, their 

 matins over, the happy pair are seen to glide towards the 

 earth in spiral lines. They alight on the boldest summit of a 

 rock, so high that you can scarcely judge of their actual size. 

 They approach each other ; their bills meet, and caresses are 

 exchanged as tender as those of the gentle turtle dove. Far 

 beneath, wave after wave dashes in foam against the impreg- 

 nable sides of the rocky tower, the very aspect of which 

 would be terrific to almost any other creatures than the sable 

 pair, which for years have resorted to it to rear the dearly 

 cherished fruits of their connubial love. Midway between 

 them and the boiling waters some shelving ledge conceals 

 their eyry. To it they now betake themselves, to see what 

 damage it has sustained from the peltings of the winter tem- 

 pest. By degrees the nest is enlarged and trimmed ; and, 

 when every thing has been rendered clean and comfortable, 

 the female deposits her eggs, and begins to sit upon them, 

 while her brave and affectionate mate protects and feeds her, 

 and at intervals takes her place. All around is now silent, 

 save the hoarse murmur of the waters or the whistling sound 

 produced by the flight of the waterfowl travelling towards 

 the northern regions. At length the young burst the shell, 

 when the careful parents, after congratulating each other on 

 the happy event, disgorge some half-macerated food, which 

 they deposit in their tender mouths. Should the most daring 

 adventurer of the air approach, he is attacked with fury and 

 repelled. As the young grow up, they are urged to be care- 

 ful and silent: a single false movement might precipitate 

 them into the abyss below; a single cry, during the absence 

 of the parents, might bring upon them the remorseless claws 

 of the swift peregrine or jerfalcon. The old birds themselves 

 seem to improve in care and diligence, varying their course 

 in returning home, and often entering it when unexpected. 

 The young are now seen to stand on the edge of the nest. 

 They flap their wings, and at length take courage and fly to 

 some commodious and not distant lodgement. Gradually 

 they become able to follow their parents abroad, and at 



