424 Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 



zard monopolize the locality. From time immemorial ravens 

 have been considered to inhabit the same rock. In the lower 

 districts of England certain trees have for such a length of time 

 been resorted to by this species for nestling, as to have acquired 

 the name of Raven-trees. In like manner, a wild and unfre- 

 quented locality in the Belfast mountains bears the name 

 of the Crow Glen, in consequence of a pair of ravens having 

 for a series of years nestled there in a cliff. Persecution has 

 long since driven them from the spot, which however still re- 

 tains the name. Their place was for some years supplied by 

 a pair of kestrels (Falco Tinnunculus) ; but as their nest, though 

 not easy of approach, could, with some difficulty be reached, it 

 was always robbed of its young tenants, and this species too 

 has ceased to nidify there*. 



I have with much interest observed in the month of October, about 

 the fine basaltic cliffs of the Cave-hill, near Belfast, and long after 

 the breeding-season was past, that as evening set in, a few ravens 

 would appear together hoarsely croaking about the rocks, whilst at 

 the same time hosts of jackdaws w r ere garrulously chattering, and 

 several kestrels added their shrill voices as they careered gracefully 

 about in company. After some little time they all retired to the 

 rocks for the night. 



On one occasion 1 had interesting evidence of the power of sight 

 in the raven. A nest of young rats not more than three or four days 

 old had been dug up in a stubble field, and after being killed were 

 left there. Very soon afterwards two or three ravens passing over 

 the place at a great height, on coming above the spot dropped almost 

 directly down upon them. The young rats had not been ten minutes 

 dead at the time, and consequently could hardly have emitted any 

 effluvia. Besides, they were so small, that even had they given out 

 any to the air, it seems hardly possible that it could have ascended to 

 the great elevation at which the birds had been. Sight alone, I 

 conceive, must in this instance have been exerted. 



Mr. R. Davis, jun., of Clonmel, remarks, that ravens, if taken 

 young, can be reared so as not to injure other birds, as he " for a 



* Ravens are generally so very wary and mistrustful of man, that the 

 following note (communicated by my brother) may be worth insertion. " In 

 the middle of March 1828, a pair of ravens had a nest in Grogan's Glen, in 

 the Black Mountain (near Belfast). It was near the top of the highest rock ; 

 was formed of sticks and lined with wool ; it contained seven eggs of a dark 

 green colour, blotched over with black. The birds were very tame, the 

 first day I saw them approaching within three or four yards, and hopping 

 about near me so long as I remained, when their glossy plumage looked 

 very beautiful." Their tameness arose simply from their being unmolested 

 in the locality, perhaps in consequence of a belief among the country people, 

 that it is " unlucky " to kill a raven ; for this very pair of birds was known 

 to carry off eggs, young ducks, &c, from the nearest farm-yards. But, as 

 is usual in such cases, one of the poor ravens, by thus putting its trust in 

 man, was shot a few days afterwards by a vagrant gunner. 



