48 Messrs, H. H. Slater and T. Carter's 



feathers. We obtainedj about the same time, young flyers in 

 a very interesting stage of plumage, which has been described 

 by Professor Newton in ' Yarrell/ ed. 4, vol. ii., but, so far 

 as we know, nowhere figured. 



Raven. {Corvus corax.) 



We were, of course, too late for the eggs of this bird, but 

 we took young birds, almost fledged, from a nest on June 30 ; 

 they were four in number, and had been fed on birds' eggs 

 (mostly, apparently, those of the Whimbrel and Golden 

 Plover) and berries, which, from their colour, could only have 

 been those of Emjietrum. Ravens seem to get a good many 

 of the Ptarmigan's eggs ; on two occasions we found one 

 lying in the woods so neatly sucked as to make pretty good 

 specimens. The Whimbrels used to attack the black robbers 

 fearlessly when they came near their nests, as Peewits do 

 Rooks at home. As there is a much greater disparity in size 

 in the former case, and, apparently, a less eflFective weapon 

 (for it is difficult to imagine a more incapable instrument than 

 the Whimbrel's bill, from a warlike point of view), this speaks 

 volumes for the pluck of the Whimbrel. As long as the 

 Raven kept on the ground, the Whimbrels did the same. 

 But as soon as we approached the Raven and it occurred to 

 him that he had better move, the Whimbrels dashed at him 

 as soon as he was on the wing, and appeared almost to tumble 

 him over, and he soon was glad to take to earth again in a 

 most undignified manner. Then the Whimbrels, after a stoop 

 or two at his head, which he met by ducking and croaking, 

 perched on hummocks and watched him as before. This 

 seemed to be the usual procedure ; but the Raven appeared to 

 be ready to put up with the kicks as long as he got the half- 

 pence — to wit, the eggs. Amongst the scores of Ravens we 

 saw, we did not observe a single pied specimen. 



White-tailed Eagle. [Halia'etus albicilla.) 

 An egg of the season was brought in to us. 



Iceland Falcon. {Hierofalco islandus.) 

 We saw several, and eggs which had been taken earlier were 

 brought to us. 



