504 COllVUS CORAX. 



sorts of situations, along the rocky shores, on the sand fords, the 

 sides of the hills, the inland moors, and the mountain tops. 

 It flies at a moderate height, proceeding rather slowly, deviat- 

 ing to either side, sailing at intervals, and seldom uttering any 

 sound. When it has discovered a dead sheep, it alights on a 

 stone, a peat bank, or other eminence, folds up its wings, looks 

 around, and croaks. It then advances nearer, eyes its prey 

 with attention, leaps upon it, and in a half-crouching attitude 

 examines it. Finding matters as it wished, it croaks aloud, 

 picks out an eye, devours part of the tongue if that organ be 

 protruded, and lastly attacks the subcaudal region. By this 

 time another raven has usually come up. They perforate the 

 abdomen, drag out and swallow portions of the intestines, and 

 continue to feast until satiated or disturbed. Sometimes, espe- 

 cially should it be winter, they are joined by a Great Black- 

 backed Gull, or even a Herring Gull, which, although at first 

 shy, are allowed to come in for a share of the plunder ; but 

 should an eagle arrive, both they and the gulls retire to a short 

 distance, the former waiting patiently, the latter w^alking back- 

 wards and forwards uttering plaintive cries, until the intruder 

 departs. When the carcase is that of a larger animal than a 

 sheep, they do not however fly oif, although an eagle or even a 

 dog should arrive. " Feris convivialis'' observes Linnaeus, and 

 the fact is proverbial in the Hebrides, where this bird is named 

 Biadhtach, and wdiere biadhtachd, which etymologically is 

 analogous to ravening, signifies associating for the purpose of 

 eating and making merry. These observations I have made 

 while lying in w^ait in little huts constructed for the purpose of 

 shooting eades and ravens from them. The latter I have al- 

 lowed to remain unmolested for hours, that they might attract 

 the former to the carrion ; and in this manner I have been 

 enabled to watch their actions when they were perfectly unre- 

 strained. 



Although the raven is omnivorous, its chief food is carrion, 

 by which is here meant the carcases of sheep, horses, cattle, 

 deer, and other quadrupeds, dolphins and cetaceous animals in 

 general, as well as fishes that have been cast ashore. In au- 

 tumn it sometimes commits great havock among the barley, 



