CORVID^— CROWS. 139- 



out of danger. At this lapse of time, we confess our robbery seems rather cruel ;. 

 but never shall we forget our visit to the ' Raven's-tree.' " 



A much more recent instance of the Raven breeding in Essex, is that reported 

 to me by Mr. Stanley Edwards, who writes that a pair 



" used to build for some years in three Scotch fir-trees, 'in the park of Lawford 

 Hall, near Manningtree, the property of F. M. Nicholls, Esq. These trees stand 

 quite alone on a mount, supposed to be the grave of some Roman chief, and are 

 very conspicuous all up the valley of the Stour. The birds used to nest there every 

 year, and were protected from the superstition of the villagers, which was much 

 increased by a mortality that occurred among the cows of the place at the same 

 time the Ravens first made their appearance, and which, of course, was laid to their 

 charge. I am speaking from memory, but should say they were there from 1870 

 to 1880, and then suddenly disappeared — why, or how, I have never been able to 

 learn. They did not seem to mind any one looking at their nest, beyond just 

 flapping slowly off to a neighbouring tree, from where they could watch the in- 

 truder. The Nichollses several times took a young one from the nest to bring up 

 as a pet." 



Mr. Walter B. Nicholls, who has sent me corroborative information, adds : 



"The Ravens came to us from Sutton, just over the river [Stour], in the 

 winter of 1870-71, I think, and stopped some six or seven years. On their arrival 

 they did some damage among weakly lambs, but never afterwards, so far as I ob- 

 served, preyed on anything so near home. They always had two nests in adjoin- 

 ing trees in a clump of firs growing on a barrow here. The cock bird was mag- 

 nificent in appearance, as he rushed barking from the trees at the first sight of 

 anybody approaching : the hen j)ermitted a much nearer approach." 



Quite a number of other " Raven-trees " have been reported to me from time 

 to time in various parts of the county. 



As regards the breeding of the Raven in Essex at the present day, it may be 

 said, I believe, that we still have several nests annually, all of them in the low- 

 land parts near the sea, but it is not wise to reveal their exact whereabouts to ra- 

 pacious collectors. For most of my information relating to them, I am indebted 

 to Mr. E. A. Fitch, who has carefully collected all the available facts. That gen- 

 tleman tells me that from " time immemorial," a pair built on the " Raven-tree " 

 — a large elm — on his farm on Northey Island, but they deserted it in 1887. The 

 principal nest 1 know of is built in a tall elm, being one of many similar trees 

 standing in a hedgerow on an island off the coast which is fortunately rather 

 difficult of access. It has been built in the same spot regularly for many years 

 past, notwithstanding the fact that, for several 3rears at least, not one young one 

 has been allowed to fiy. In 1886, four young birds were taken from it, of which 

 one is still alive, the rest having been stung to death by bees. In July, 1887, the 

 same gentleman took three more, and again in x888 the entire brood. In Sep- 

 tember of that year I visited the spot, when I found the nest, which was chiefly of 

 sticks, rags, wool and matting, lying on the ground below the tree, having been 

 poked down by a farm-lad because Hawks had laid eggs in it after the Raven's 

 nest. In April following, I again visited the spot, but the tree was not then oc- 

 cupied. However, the Ravens had been seen about shortly before and were 

 doubtless nesting in the vicinity, though several likely-looking nests we found 

 seemed to be unoccupied. In the southern part of the county I have been in- 

 formed of several nests — two of them within a quarter of a mile of one another 

 — which were occupied very recently and probably are now, but I have not been 

 able to visit the spot. In 1888, too, there was a nest on Brick House Farm, 

 Mundon, but it was unoccupied the following year. Probably other nests 

 might be found. Two Ravens, which surely must have been breeding^ 



