162 BRITISH BtRD^ 



THE RAVEN. 



Unfortunately this bird is now very scarce, and with 

 the exception of a few locaHties, which it would be invidious 

 to name, has been practically exterminated in the interests (?) 

 of game-preservers, who like to do all the killing for their 

 own sport. It is one of the largest of our native birds, 

 measuring about 2 feet in length, of which the tail takes 

 up rather more than 8 inches. The general colour is deep 

 glossy black, with metallic reflections of blue, green, and 

 gold, which make it a very handsome creature when 

 examined closely. It is a cunning one too, and volumes 

 might be filled with anecdotes of its exploits in many 

 direcdons. The nest, made of sdcks, is placed in various 

 situations, on a high tree, or the ledge of some inaccessible 

 rock, or a ruined building, or, failing such points of 

 vantage, even on the ground. The eggs, two or three in 

 number, rarely more, are of a greenish-olive colour spotted 

 ^vith brown. The young are easily reared on meat, snails, 

 worms, and insects of all kinds, and when full grown will 

 take anything that is offered to them, but are especially 

 fond of eggs. A pair of tame Ravens will breed in con- 

 finement and bring up four or five young ones to a brood, 

 although in a wild state these number two, or sometimes 

 three only. 



It is a bird, however, that requires a little management, 

 not only on account of its strength and the formidable 

 weapon it carries on its head (its bill, that is to say), but 

 of its cunning : for it has, in common with all the Crows, a 

 strong passion for carrying off and hiding any small 

 glittering object it can lift easily, such as rings, coins, tea- 

 spoons, or even a small watch, and many instances are on 

 record where its thievish propensities have been the means 

 of getting innocent people into trouble. 



The best plan is to keep one of the wings a little 

 clipped, but only the primaries need be so treated, and 

 the mutilation will then be imperceptible unless the birds 

 attempt to fly. By this means the Raven's hiding-places 

 will be readily accessible to its master, and should from 

 time to time be overhauled, when it will be surprising what a 



