124 SINGING BIRDS. 



lar strain of croaking, and both sexes are observed caressing, by 

 approaching tlieir bills, with as much semblance of affection as 

 the truest turtle-doves. In temperate climates the Raven be- 

 gins to lay in the months of February or March. The eggs are 

 5 or 6, of a pale, muddy bluish green, marked with numerous 

 spots and lines of dark olive brown. She sits about 20 days, 

 and during this time the male takes care to provide her with 

 abundance of nourishment. Indeed, from the quantity of grain, 

 nuts, and fruits which have been found at this time in the envi- 

 rons of the nest, this supply would appear to be a store laid up 

 for future occasions. Whatever may be their forethought re- 

 garding food, they have a well-known propensity to hide things 

 which come within their reach, though useless to themselves, 

 and appear to give a preference to pieces of metal, or any- 

 thing which has a brilliant appearance. At Erfurt, one of 

 these birds had the patience to carry and hide, one by one, 

 under a stone in the garden, a quantity of small pieces of 

 money, which amounted, when discovered, to 5 or 6 florins ; 

 and there are few countries which cannot afford similar instan- 

 ces of their domestic thefts. 



Of the perseverance of the Raven in the act of incubation, 

 Mr. White has related the following remarkable anecdote : In 

 the centre of a grove near Selborne there stood a tall and 

 shapeless oak which bulged out into a large excrescence near 

 the middle of the stem. On this tree a pair of Ravens had 

 fixed their residence for such a series of years that the oak 

 was distinguished by the title of "The Raven Tree." Many 

 were the attempts of the neighboring youths to get at this nest. 

 The difficulty whetted their inclinations, and each was ambi- 

 tious of accomplishing the arduous task ; but when they arrived 

 at the swelling, it jutted out so in their way, and was so far 

 beyond their grasp, that the boldest lads were deterred, and 

 acknowledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. Thus the 

 Ravens continued to build, and rear their young in security, 

 until the fatal day on which the wood was to be levelled. 

 This was in the month of February, when these birds usually 

 begin to sit. The saw was applied to the trunk, the wedges 



