1^8 Audubon's Birds of' America, 



shore, and swept in tay gallant bark o'er the swelling wayes of the ocean. 

 And now, kind reader, let me resume my descriptions, and proceed towards 

 the completion of a task, which, with reverence would I say it, seems to have 

 been imposed upon me by Him who called me into existence. 



" In the United States, the Raven is in some measure a migratory bird, 

 individuals retiring to the extreme south during severe winters, but return- 

 ing towards the Middle, Western, and Northern Districts, at the first indica- 

 tions of milder weather. A few are known to breed in the mountainous por- 

 tions of South Carolina, but instances of this kind are rare, and are occasioned 

 merely by the security afforded by inaccessible precipices, in which they may 

 rear their young. Their usual places of resort are the mountains, the abrupt 

 banks of rivers, the rocky shores of lakes, and the cliffs of thinly-peopled or 

 deserted islands. It is in such places that these birds must be watched and 

 examined, before one can judge of their natural habits, as manifested, amid 

 their freedom from the dread of their most dangerous enemy, the lord of the 

 creation. 



" There, through the clear and rarified atmosphere, the Raven spreads bis 

 glossy wings and tail, and, as he onward sails, rises higher and higher each 

 bold sweep that he makes, as if conscious that the nearer he approaches the 

 sun, the more splendent will become the tints of his plumage. Intent on con- 

 vincing his mate of the fervour and constancy of his love, he now gently glides 

 beneath her, floats in the buoyant air, or sails by her side. Would that I 

 could describe to you, reader, the many musical inflections by means of which 

 they hold converse during these amatory excursions ! These sounds doubt- 

 less express their pure conjugal feelings, confirmed and rendered more intense 

 by long years of happiness in each other's society. In this manner they may 

 recall the pleasing remembrance of their youthful days, recount the events of 

 their life, express the pleasure they have enjoyed, and perhaps conclude with 

 h>imble prayer to the Author of their being for a continuation of it. 



" Now, their matins are over ; the happy pair are seen to glide towards the 

 earth in spiral lines; they alight on the boldest summit of a rock, so high 

 that you can scarcely judge of their actual size ; they approach each other, 

 their bills meet, and caresses are exchanged as tender as those of the gentle 

 Turtle Dove. Far beneath, wave after wave dashes in foam against the im- 

 pregnable sides of the rocky tower, the very aspect of which would be terrific 

 to a] most any other creatures than the sable pair, which for years have resorted 

 to it, to rear the dearly-cherished fruits of their connubial love. Midway be- 

 tween them and the boiling waters, some shelving ledge conceals their eyry. 

 To it they now betake themselves, to see what damage it has sustained from 

 the peltings of the winter tempests. Off they fly to the distant woods for 

 fresh materials with which to repair the breach ; or on the plain they collect 

 the hair and fur of quadrupeds ; or from the sandy beach pick up the weeds 

 that have been washed there. By degrees, the nest is enlarged aud trimmed, 

 and when every thing has been rendered clean and comfortable^ the female 

 deposits her eggs, aud begins to sit upon them, while her brave and affection- 

 ate mate protects and feeds hef, and at intervals takes her place. 



" All around is now silent, save the hoarse murmur of the waves, or the 

 whistling sounds jiroduced by the flight of the waterfowl travelling towards 



