52 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



reward, generally overcomes such difficulties. On 

 two occasions when in a boat under the cliffs, a 

 Chough passed within shot, but reflecting that we 

 had ah-eady done enough to diminish the race by 

 taking the eggs, our charge was saved, and the birds 

 spared, haply to breed again." 



Since that time a few pairs have maintained their 

 footing in the range of sea-cliffs between Weymouth 

 and Swanage, but thoughtless destruction of the old 

 birds from time to time has sadly reduced their 

 numbers. Five were trapped in the summer of 

 1885 near Swanage, where in the following January 

 another was shot. 



I had the pleasure of seeing a pair of old birds 

 and one young one flying about Seacombe Cliff, near 

 St. Alban's Head, in May 1885, and it is gratifying 

 to add that a pair were observed at Studland as 

 recently as April 1887. 



KAA'''EjSr. Corvus corax, L. 



Yarrell, ii. p. 259; Harting, p. 30; Dresser, iv. p. 567; Seeholim, 

 i. p. 532 ; Ibis List, p. 70 ; Pulteney's List, p. 4. 



The Raven is another bird which has become 

 nearly extinct through persistent persecution. Fifty 

 years ago it used to breed in the cliffs of St. Alban's 

 Head and Gadcliff ; several were often seen together 

 soaring over the cliffs above Kimmeridge, with their 

 ominous croak. In 1865 Mr. Harting noticed its 

 occurrence near Lulworth, where there was a brood 

 reared (in Swyre Cliff) in April of that year {Zoologist, 



