BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 233 



The nest itself is a large and fairly well-made cup- 

 shaped structure of twigs and heather, lined with wool 

 and fur. The eggs, three to five or more in number, 

 are laid veiy early in the season. From the cabinet 

 point of view, at any rate, they are rather ' disappointing ' ; 

 in colour they resemble those of the commoner Crows — 

 pale blue-green, with darker blotches ; and in size they 

 are not nearly so much larger as one is apt to 

 expect. The yoimg of the Crow family are of the 

 normal Passerine type ; both the incubation period and 

 the period spent by the young in the nest are longer 

 than usual. This is especially the case with young 

 Ravens. Other considerations apart, these periods tend 

 to increase with the size of the bird. 



A point that we must briefly touch on is the 'play' 

 of the Raven. Many have described its strange aerial 

 antics ; how it dives and tumbles at a great height ; 

 how it bears pebbles and twigs up with it ; and how 

 it drops them, swoops after them, and recovers them 

 with beak or claw. Still more remarkable is the scene 

 witnessed by more than one fortunate observer in the 

 central Highlands, when a dozen pairs of ' Corbies ' 

 gather together — obviously from a wide area — to disport 

 themselves in company. 



THE CARRION-CROW 



(Corvus corone). 



Plate 72. 



* A lesser Raven.' These words form a good concise 

 description of the appearance and habits of the Black 

 or Carrion - Crow. It is like the Raven in general 

 build, but is on a smaller scale ; and, like the Raven's, 



2d 



