Correspondence.



35



The Raven is such a fine bird that you cannot very well mistake it.

In the wild state, it keeps together in pairs, breeding usually in cliffs,

though occasionally in trees. It is still moderately common in some parts

of the coast where there are cliffs, but is, generally speaking, rare inland.

It will eat any living creature it is able to kill, and also feeds on dead crea¬

tures, large insects, eggs, and almost anything that conies in its way. In

captivity it makes a splendid pet if allowed plenty of room, imitates almost

any sound that may take its fancy, and will learn to speak a few words

clearly. If the bird be young, now is the time to teach it. If it may not

be allowed to roam about, the larger the aviary you can make for it the

better; one part must be sheltered, and the rest open to the weather. A

few thick perches should be fixed about. It is very foud of washing. Feed

on mice, rats, young rabbits, sparrows, and scraps from the dinner table of

almost any kind, the greater the variety the better, and may include

cabbage, carrots, peas, etc. (not potatoes unless well mashed up with gravy),

and now and then a little fruit. Butcher’s meat (raw) is very heating for a

bird, and is apt to cause it to pluck out its feathers. If it should shew any

tendancy to do this, at once put fluid magnesia in the drinking water and

give less meat. Fowls’ heads, necks, etc., come in useful.


Some day if I can find the time, I will write the story of a Raven

which I had here for years.


The Carrion Crow is a fairly common bird, breeding freely wherever

there are plenty of woods and trees. It is wonderfully clever in selecting

spots where it is likely to be unmolested. Like the Raven, it keeps in

pairs, never going about in flocks like Rooks ; and in its habits generally

it is much like the Raven. When a lad I often kept young Crows, but they

are neither so clever nor so interesting as Ravens.


Rooks, although omnivorous, are more inclined to be insectivorous

and granivorous than either of the foregoing. Rooks congregate in flocks

all the year through ; and old Rooks have the space round the base of the

bill bare of feathers. Young Rooks and young Crows are much alike, but,

unless my memory plays me false, the young Crow is of a very dead black,

while the young Rook is glossy'. Books tell us that young Rooks may be

distinguished from young Crows in two ways. Turn back the body feathers,

and the bases of the feathers in the Rook are grey, in the Crow white. The

inside of the mouth of the Crow is said to be of a pale flesh colour at all

ages, while that of a young Rook is said to be of a dark flesh colour, soon

turning livid, and becoming of a slate colour in the adult bird. The Jack¬

daw may be distinguished in a moment by its light-blue eye.


The Raven nests early, and a young Raven ought by now (August) to

be considerably larger and more bulky than a Rook. Most of the young

Ravens met with in captivity in this country come from the continent.

During the coming winter and spring, carefully watch the small feathers on



