RAVEN. 8l 



On ancient oak, or elm, whose topmost bousrhs 

 Begin to fail, the Raven's twig-formed bower 

 Is built ; and many a year the selfsame tree 

 The aged solitary pair frequent. 



Grahame — Birds of Scotland. 



A pair of Ravens used to build in the tall beech trees on 

 Dinmore Hill, on the ridge opposite Hampton Court, up to within 

 the last ten or twelve years, and every spring to the present time, 

 Mr. J. H. Arkwright has observed the Ravens to come and soar 

 round the district though they no longer build there. 



" When I was a boy," says Mr. Ley, " Raven trees were often 

 pointed out by old men, in my constant and vehement birds' 

 nesting rambles, but I never once met with a nest in a tree. Is it 

 true that they do still breed upon trees in Herefordshire " ? 



Ravens when not numerous do a very insignificant amount of 

 harm, feeding themselves on rabbits, moles, or other small animals, 

 and such carrion as they fall in with ; but if at all plentiful, or 

 other food is scarce, or when feeding their young, they become 

 very mischievous. All weak animals, as cast or yeaning ewes, 

 even horses or cattle, if old, or ill, or helpless in a bog, are soon 

 attacked. The Raven strikes an eye with his powerful beak, and 

 when the poor animal rolls in agony to rub it on the ground, the 

 other eye is pierced, and the cruel bird flies off to return again 

 when its victim is dead, with companions who quickly disembowel 

 the animal ; and who, if not disturbed, will never leave it till the 

 bones are bare. 



As when a greedy Raven sees 



A sheep entangled by the fleece. 



With hasty cruelty he flies 



To attack him, and pick out his eyes. 



Butler — Miscellaneous Thoughts. 



Ravens have a keen sight, as well as sense of smell. A writer 

 in the Zoologist (Vol. i) says — "When they search in waste places 

 for provision, they hover over them at a great height ; and yet a 

 sheep will not be dead many minutes before they find it. Nay, if 

 a morbid smell transpires from any one of the flock, they will watch 

 the animal for days till it dies." 



