8o RAVEN. 



CORVUS CORAX— Raven. 



There were three Ravens sat on a tree, 

 Down a down, hey down, hey down. 



—Old Song. 



Denmark's grim Raven. 



Scott — Marmion. 



The Raven is a fine powerful bird, bold and sagacious, with 

 a quick eye, and probably a keen scent. It is not uncommon 

 in the more wild and hilly districts of Herefordshire. In the 

 neighbourhood of the Black Mountains, and in the wilder districts 

 of the northern side of the county, it is almost always to be seen 

 and heard, though its numbers are gradually becoming less from 

 the poisoned baits of the shepherd and the gamekeeper. The 

 Raven builds still in the Cwmyoy Rocks, and in the Darrens of 

 the Black Mountains. " When I first knew the Tarren Esgob in 

 the Llanthony Valley," says Mr. Ley, " two pairs of Ravens built 

 there, but of late years only one pair, and I never knew more than 

 a single pair to breed at Cwmyoy." A pair built there this year 

 (1884) and reared their young ones. Two Ravens flew by the 

 Vicarage at Longtown in 1883, which were seen and heard by the 

 Rev. C. L. Eagles. This gentleman, some years since on turning 

 a corner of the mountain, shot one which measured 3 feet 3 inches 

 from tip to tip of the extended wings. He states that they are 

 still common in that neighbourhood. A pair of Ravens built at 

 Stanner Rocks, near Kington, for many years. The old birds used 

 to go away year after year with their young ones, and return alone, 

 and if one got shot, or destroyed, the other would fly away and 

 return with another mate, but for the last few years they have not 

 built there. Ravens are said to have built on tall trees at Whitfield, 

 at Croft Ambrey, at Brampton Bryan, at Wigmore Rolls, and at 

 many other places. About fifty years since, still within the memory 

 of the old men of the parish, a pair of Ravens built in a tall elm 

 tree in the parish of Sellack. The tree was cut down one spring 

 when the hen bird was sitting on her eggs. She was killed in the 

 fall, and Ravens have never nested in the parish since. 



