The Raven 167 



Familx— COR I ID. E. 



The Raven. 



Coivus torax, LiNN. 



DISTRIBUTED tliroughoul Europe from tlie liuiil of land in the north to 

 the Mediterranean in the soutli and throughout northern Asia to the 

 Himalayas ; whilst in America it extends across the continent from the 

 Pacific to Greenland and southwards to Guatemala and possibly Honduras, though 

 to the east of the Mississippi it is somewhat rare and local. 



In England, probably owing to the systematic persecution to which it has 

 l)een subjected, the Raven is becoming very rare, though a few pairs still breed 

 regularly in the rocky headlands of our southern and south-western coasts. 

 Howard Saunders observes that nests built in trees, although far rarer than 

 formerly, are less uncommon than might be supposed at short distances inland. 

 Not long ago several pairs bred in Essex. To this I can add that in the winter 

 of 1885-6 a pair of Ravens used daily to pass over ni}' garden at Penge (where I 

 then lived) and on mentioning the fact to a friend in the train he told me he 

 knew of a pair which had a nest in the spring of 1885 not far from Beckenham, 

 but he intended to keep its situation to himself, lest I should be tempted to try 

 and secure the eggs. 



In Scotland, and particularly the Outer Hebrides and other Western Isles 

 northwards to the Shetlauds, it is still common ; whilst it is found in the wilder 

 regions of Ireland. 



The Raven is glossy black, with iridescent purple and Prussian blue tints on 

 the upper parts and throat ; bill and feet black, iris brown. The female is 

 smaller, and less distinctly shot with purple and blue ; her bill is slightly shorter. 

 The young resemble the female, but lack the metallic gloss of adult birds. 



The bird of Odin is widely regarded with superstitious awe ; its sable 

 colouring, gruff croaking notes, and its delight in carrion, however foul and 

 putrid, have doubtless conspired to stamp it as a bird of evil omen; 3'et, to watch 

 a pair of Ravens at pla}', gives one no feeling of horror or disgust ; for their 

 foolish antics and absurd lateral jumps are irresistibly laughable. 



