2 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



of its mate more or less closely during life, and for years 

 and years will continue to frequent one favourite breed- 

 ing-place. It is one of the very earliest birds to com- 

 mence nesting duties, and the eggs are not unfrequently 

 laid before the last of the snow has vanished from its 

 haunts. Formerly the Raven usually nested in a tree ; 

 but the incessant persecution that has banished this fine 

 bird from most woodland districts has caused it con- 

 siderably to alter its domestic arrangements. Most 

 Ravens' nests are now built on lofty and very often 

 inaccess'ble cliffs. Here a site is found on some ledge, 

 or deep down in a fissure, or even amongst bushes and 

 ivy growing from the rock. The exact spot is often 

 indicated by the white droppings that splash surround- 

 ing objects ; or the nest itself is generally very large, 

 being often the accumulation of many years, as the 

 birds frequently add to their home each season. The 

 nest is made of sticks and often branches of heather or 

 ling, sometimes with masses of wool clinging to them ; 

 turf, roots, moss, wool, fur, and hair form a soft and 

 plentiful lining. It has frequently been remarked that 

 nests of this species built in trees are much more com- 

 pact than those on cliffs. The parent birds are wary 

 and watchful enough, and are ever ready to attack and 

 beat off any predatory bird that may venture too near 

 their home. During the nesting period the old Ravens 

 may frequently be seen playing and toying in the air 

 above their nesting-place, and uttering by no means 

 unmusical cries. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Raven are from three to seven in 

 number; five being an average clutch. They are bluish- 

 green or olive-brown in ground colour, spotted, splashed, 

 and freckled with various shades of olive, and occasion- 

 ally with smaller markings of very dark brown, nearly 



