276 



NORTHERN RAVEN. 



Gorvus oorax piincipalis. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Size large; entire plumage of glossy black with purplish 

 reflections; feathers of throat lengthened, disconnected and 

 pointed; bill large, and like the feet and legs its color is black. 

 The eyes are dark brown; length, about 2 feet; extent 4 feet 

 or more. 



SabitaL^yt orthern North America, from Greenland to 

 Alaska, south to British Columbia, Canada, Pennsylvania, 

 Maryland, West Virginia, etc. 



This, the largest bird of its family occurring iu 

 Pennsylvania, is found here as a resident. In the 

 summer season Ravens rarely leave their native 

 heather where, in a region abounding in stately forest 

 monarchs and precipitous rocky cliffs, they can rest in 

 comparative safety from enemies, especially iiiaii 

 whom they dread the most of all. 



MUST WATCH THE FOX. 



Sometimes when Ravens nest on rocky ledges or in 

 caverns in the mountains, as they do very often, their 

 eggs or young arc lakcii by Fu.xc.s or Wildcats. If 

 Ravens build in a locality which they find is accessible 

 to the cunning Fox or sneaking Wildcat they abandon 

 the place, and if no suitable nesting site can be found 

 on some high rocky place inaccessible to these and 

 other carnivC'i-ous animals, they build high iij) in l:ill 

 tree.<i, selecting usually the white pine. 



THE NEST AND EGGS. 



Tlie nest of the Raven is a rude structure couiiiosed 

 largely of sticks, twigs, moss and bark. 



