RA.VEN. 261 



their careless or cruel masters than to the Eaven that puts 

 an end to their wretched existence. Like the other birds of 

 this genus, the Raven is not particular in its diet : animal 

 food of any kind is welcome, and on the sea-coast the shore 

 is closely searched for dead fishes, mollusks, crustaceans or 

 other invertebrates, while, inland, grain is occasionally eaten. 

 The Eaven inhabits high rocks or open plains, where 

 danger may be seen and avoided. For that reason it, in 

 these days, generally avoids woodland and enclosed countries, 

 though in truth, it having now been extirpated throughout 

 most of the interior of England, one cannot positively assert 

 that this was so formerly. There was a time, and that not 

 so long ago, when nearly every district, even in the midland 

 counties, had its pair, well known to the whole countryside, 

 while equally well known was the tall " Eavens' tree" in 

 which, year after year, the old nest was refurnished and the 

 eggs laid. Space would here fail to repeat the numerous 

 accounts that have been published of these historic haunts, 

 for there are few faunists who have not dwelt upon the 

 fortunes of the race of Eavens inhabiting the district of 

 which they treat, and the narratives of Gilbert White, Bishop 

 Stanley, Mr. Knox and other more recent writers are remem- 

 bered by all who have read them. In some few cases, pro- 

 tection has been successfully obtained for these ancient 

 tenants by an influential neighbour ; but too often, and 

 especially as superstition, within the last twenty or thirty 

 years, has gradually lost ground, the most deadly drugs have 

 been covertly laid by the shepherd or the gamekeeper, and 

 the ancestral seat rendered desolate. It used to be observed 

 that when one of the pair of birds was killed, the survivor 

 generally and quickly obtained a new mate, but since the 

 number of Eavens in England has now been so much re- 

 duced, this happens more and more seldom, while still more 

 rarely does it at this day occur that should both birds be 

 killed their place is taken by a fresh pair. These remarks of 

 course refer chiefly to inland localities, for the rocky parts of 

 the coast are still fairly stocked, and there are yet districts 

 where not unfrequcntly the practised ear will catch the hoarse 



