452 AMERICA iV RA VF.N. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Avcniifc mco-siii-PiiicntsoflirLccnmalo sjiccimcnslVmu Novtii America. Lcn,i;tli, 23'20; stretch, 50-50; wing, 10-50; tail, 

 (fOO; hill, t'.'iO; taiNus, 2-18. L:mg.ist spnciiiion, 25-00; greatest extent of wing,5G-00; longest wing, 17-50; tail, l()-y5; bill, 

 2-78: tarsus, -J-Ofi. Sliortest speciiii.^n. Or ID; smallest extent of wing, 4r,-0(); sliovtcst wing, 15-50; tail, 9-OG; liiU, 2-40; 

 tarsus, 2 35. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Ncsfs, ]ilai-cil in trees or on clin's. They are bulky, compact structures composed of sticks, lined with coarse grass 

 and sua-weed. Lfuuensions; (apin-oximate) external diameter, 36-00, internal, 18-00. External depth, 18-UO, internal, G-OO. 



Er/gs, from f lur to live in number, dark-green in color, spotted and Ijlotched with grayish and Ijlack. Dimensions from 

 1-70 X l-:s.'> to l-HUx 1-45. 



HABITS. 



When the thick, white fog hangs like a pall over the Magdalen Islands qnite obscur- 

 ing the suiToiuiding water and causing the steep, conical, grass-covered hills near at hand, 

 to l,)ok like dim, ;rrecnish clouds suspended in inid air; when nothing is to be heard save 

 the inonohmons, never-ceasing sound of waves beating at the base of the high cliffs, and 

 the east wind coming fresli from the ice-bergs which float in the mighty ocean not far 

 aWa.y, is as chilly iis a breath from the tomb; when all objects appear so distorted and un- 

 real in the misty light, that one seems transported to another world; then a harsh croak is 

 heard sounding out witli such sudden di.-^linctness as to be startling. 



One who is unaccustomed to the locality gazes about in amazement for there is not 

 a, living thing in siglit, and the cry wa.s so weird and coincided so perfectly with the gloomy 

 surrouiidings as to suggest that it was of supematurtd origin. Again the uncouth note is 

 repeated, ))ut nearer, harslier atid more real, and then the eye guided by the sound, sees 

 a black shape gliding through the mist. Then another appears and still another, followed 

 by half a, dozen more, while the ;iir is lilled with dismal croakings. One can by this time 

 discern th:it the mysterious sounds are produced l)y Ravens which are returning from :i. 

 predatory excursion to some neighlxning island, for these Idack pirates take advantage tit" 

 tlie ol)scuring fog in order i.> rol) the nests of various sea-birds which breed near. 



The Rnvens subsist l:irg( ly Viy pillage, at least during summer, eating the eggs and 

 destroying the young of other liinls. They also attack small lambs, picking o-ut their eyes, 

 tlnis causing their death, and tliey will sometimes kill lai'go sea-birds. Dr. E. L. Sturte- 

 vant informed me that ho was at one time standing on a beach at Grand Menan, when he 

 saw a Gannet soaring very liigh in air with, what appeared to be, a black spot above and 

 Ijclow it. The bird seemed distressed and continued to mount upwai'ds until both dark 

 spots were seen to bo al)ove it, when suddenly it fell from that immense height, strut-k 

 the ground, and \v;ts actually dashed to pieces 1:)y the force of the shock. Dr. Sturtevnnt 

 approached it, when ti Ritven s|irang from the body and flew away. These birds also eat 

 fish or any other dead animals thrown up by the waves. 



The Ravens prefer the ble;ik, wind-swept islands along the coast and build their nests 

 on the rocky shelves of high cliffs. They always choose the most inaccessible situations 

 that are available, often placing their bulky domiciles in it niche which is so small that it 

 can hardly contain it. The newly hatched young must be very tenacious of life, or the 



