86 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



RAVEN (Corvus corax) 



Local Names. — Corbie, Corbie Crow, Corby, Great Corbie Crow. 



Haunt. — Mountains, precipitous sea cliffs, large woods, etc. 



Nesting Period. — February to April. 



Site of Nest. — Rocks, sea cliffs, and very tall trees. 



Materials Used. — Sticks and roots, lined with wool and hair. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. Light green, spotted and blotched with 

 various shades of brown. 



Food. — Hares, rabbits, rats, mice, moles, birds, dead animals, grain, 

 grubs, worms, fruit, eggs, etc. 



Voice. — A hoarse " kroack, kroack," also a deep "croak." When 

 angered, " howk, howk," and when hungry, " ark-ark." 



Chief Features. — Has disappeared from many of its former strong- 

 holds in Great Britain. Haunts solitary places. May be 

 taught to articulate quite plainly. The largest British member 

 of the Crow family. It has a wonderful distribution, being a 

 citizen of the world. 



Plumage. — Black, with purple reflections; black tail; iris with an 

 inner circle of grey, and an outer one of ash-brown. Length. — 

 Twenty-five inches. 



RAZORBILL (Alca tor da) 



Local Names. — Alk, Auk, Bawkee, Black-Billed Auk (young), Com- 

 mon Awk, Falk, Helligag, Hiogga, Marrot, Murre, Oke, Razor- 

 Billed Auk, Scout, Sea Crow, Skort, Willock (young). 



Haunt. — Rocky sea cliffs. 



Nesting Period. — Mid-May onwards. 



Site of Nest. — In a crevice or hole, 

 on rocky sea cliffs. 



Materials Used. — None. 



Eggs. — One. White, or whitish, 

 spotted and blotched with vari- 

 ous shades of brown ; ground 

 colour tinged with light buff. 



Food. — Small fish. 



Voice. — Call, a croak, "hurray," Fig. 31. Head of Razorbill. 



and, when disturbed, a "grunt." 



Chief Features. — The peculiar bill at once identifies this bird. It is 

 the nearest living relative of the extinct Great Auk. 



Plumage. — Greenish-black above; dark-brown throat; white under 

 parts; black, axc-likc beak, with a white, crescent-shaped mark 

 across the deepest part. Length. — Seventeen inches. 



