259 



expei-ieiico that, if the .Mephistophelean-like eyes of 

 the powerful marauder, attired in his funereal coat, dis 

 covered their precious treasures they would soon be 

 "gobbled up" to help supply Mr. Raven's gastrooouiic 

 needs, which are great, and likewise most varying, as 

 is the case with all omnivorous animals. 



THEY CONSUME MANY INSECTS. 



The Raven will consume annually a good many in- 

 sects, particularly the numerous ground-inhabiting 

 and wood-destroying beetles; crickets, grasshoppers 

 and "grub wcrms" he eats with great gusto. 



Beetles and grubs he generally finds about old 

 stumps and dead logs. On two occasions I have seen 

 Ravens hunting in newly plowed ground for larvae, 

 i)eetles and mice. They feed on different kinds of 

 small mammals, besides young Hares, as previously 

 mentioned; and they have been known to attack and 

 kill Flying Squirrels and Chipmunks, but their usual 

 articles of food in the way of mammals are the differ- 

 ent species of mice which abound in woods and fields. 



E.\T BERRIES, NXJTS, FROGS AND SNAKES. 



Riivens will eat, with great relish, different kinds 

 of berries which grow wild, and often in great abund- 

 ance, in the moaintainous districts. Cheri-y, peach and 

 apple trees, which are not uncommon in many wild 

 mountainous places remote from human habitation, 

 are often visited by Ravens to feed on the ripe or 

 ripening fruit. In the Autumn or Winter season, like 

 the Ruffed Grouse, Ravens may be seen at times hunt- 

 ing about apple trees for (he seeds of the fruit whicli 

 they collect from the ground, or by pecking into the 



