86 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



about on the stony ground, evidently discovering a food 

 store even on this barren ridge. 



The Raven, hke the Grey Crow, has a hatred of the 

 Golden Eagle which is quite noteworthy, since the King 

 of the Hills rarely, if ever, attacks a member of the Crow 

 family. To the attentions of a single Raven the Eagle 

 takes but little heed, but the attacks of a number of these 

 birds are a serious menace, and, as I mentioned earlier in 

 this chapter, the Golden Eagles in a certain district in 

 Skye have, it is said, been quite driven away by the 

 Corbies. In the forest of Gaick no fewer than twenty- 

 three Ravens were on one occasion seen mobbing an 

 Eagle. 



The Raven, though now extremely rare on the eastern 

 and central districts of Scotland, is not uncommon to the 

 west, in the land of the great sheep farms. This may, I 

 think, be partly attributed to its fondness for sheep. 

 A strong or healthy member of the flock a Raven will 

 never venture to attack, but should an unfortunate sheep 

 fall sickly, the bird of ill -omen will watch for days till the 

 animal dies, dragging out the eyes and tongue of the 

 victim even before the last breath has left its body. The 

 bird has been given the name of Tempest-loving Raven, 

 and rightly so, for no gale is too fierce, no storm too wild 

 to restrain it from flying over the moors on the look-out 

 for carrion. At such times it wings its way only a few 

 feet above the ground, its powerful wings propelling it 

 forward against the heaviest wind. 



It is not known whether in its hunt for food the Raven 

 is guided by scent or by its keen vision. Although its 

 favourite food is carrion, it is omnivorous. Young or 

 sickly birds are not infrequently carried off, and hares 

 and rabbits are attacked during severe snowstorms, 

 when they are in an enfeebled condition. Shepherds 

 state that the Raven will at times murder young lambs, 



