EXPULSION. 151 



Years passed away, and the raven continued 

 unknown in tliis part of West Sussex, until one 

 day in March, 1 843, when riding in the park near 

 a clump of tall old beech trees, whose trunks had 

 been denuded by time of all their lower branches, 

 my attention was suddenly arrested by the never- 

 to-be-mistaken croak of a raven, and the loud 

 chattering of a flock of jackdaws. 



I soon perceived that these were the especial 

 objects of his hatred and hostility; for after dash- 



The head keeper, better acquainted, it would appear 

 with the habits of birds than persons of his calling are 

 apt to be, afforded them every protection. He had dis- 

 covered that they were his best friends. Not a hawk, 

 weasel, or indeed any winged or four-footed animal vul- 

 garly designated "vermin," w^as suffered by the ravens 

 to approach the wood in which stood the tree contain- 

 ing the nest. 



Although pheasants and hares abounded in the im- 

 mediate vicinity, neither these nor their young were 

 ever molested by the ravens. Their foraging expedi- 

 tions were carried on at a distance, and their food con- 

 sisted almost entirely of the decomposed flesh of dead 

 animals, or, in default of this, of rats, and young rabbits 

 procured at the warrens among the Downs. 



This state of things was not to continue. In an evil 

 hour the nest was robbed. All the young ones were 

 taken. The old ravens disappeared, and have never 

 since returned to their former abode. 



