RAVEN. 75 



bark scraped together, perhaps a Httle grass and 

 leaves, or moss. 



The eggs are white, spotted and blotched with 

 reddish brown, similar to the Great Tit's, but generally 

 larger. Some small varieties, however, are indis- 

 tinguishable from large eggs of the Great Tit. 



The Nuthatch is easily tamed, and makes an amus- 

 ing pet, even going so far as to climb one's legs as it 

 would a tree trunk. He is a mischievous little fellow 

 in a cage, however, if there is any wood in it, for he 

 will soon find out a weak spot, and commence en- 

 largements. 



RAVEN. 



CORVUS CORAX. 



Family Passerid^. Sub-family Corvin.^. Genus Corvus. 



Corbie — Corbie Crow — Great Corbie Crow. 



The Raven, once so common a resident, is now 

 so no longer in England ; indeed it is fast becoming 

 very scarce. In Scotland and Ireland it is still, how- 

 ever, fairly common in certain districts, especially in 

 the Hebrides and Western Islands of Scotland. 



In our county, Hampshire, it has been persecuted 

 almost to extinction ; the last which we had at Queen- 

 wood in a wild state was in 1872, when (probably 

 tempted by the fowls) one paid several visits to " Mr. 

 John's" lawn, but there is no note of any nest 

 being found near. It is a very fine bird, with plumage 

 of a beautiful glossy black all over. It is nearly two 

 feet in length ; indeed it has been said that it bears 

 about the same proportion to the Jackdaw in size that 

 the Rook does to the Starling. 



