the Plate: but eggs with a clear blue ground (as in C. corone and C. comix) 

 are not infrequently found, sometimes almost without markings, at other 

 times boldly blotched with very dark brown, almost black. Professor 

 Newton has a very remarkable clutch of 4 eggs, received from Unst (Shet- 

 lands) in 1854, which have "a cream-coloured or pale flesh-coloured ground, 

 blotched with reddish brown or pale lavender". 



The time of laying is remarkably early: in the south of England from Breeding 

 the last week in February to about March 15 is the usual time. In Wales Season, 

 the shore breeding birds nest decidedly earlier than those in the hills — 

 full clutches from mid-February to early March on the coast, while in the 

 hills about the middle of March is the best time. On the Irish coast 

 Ussher has found young as early as March 16 and in the Shetlands most 

 eggs are laid in mid-April (Saxby). The eggs are hatched 18 or 19 days 

 from laying of last egg (Evans). 



On the Continent the breeding season varies with the latitude and 

 elevation. In Germany eggs may be obtained from mid-March to early 

 April (exceptionally as early as March 4): in northern Scandinavia from 

 mid- April to early May. In the Balkan peninsula from mid-March to the 

 end of April. 



British and Scandinavian eggs are larger than those from the plains Measure- 

 of mid-Europe. Average of 79 British eggs 49.8 x 33.5 mm., of 44 Scan- "'ents. 

 dinavian eggs 48.8 X 34.3 mm., 31 eggs from Germany and mid Russia 

 average 48.16 X 33.48 mm. Mean average of 154 eggs, 49.19 X 33.73 mm.. 

 Max. 63 X 34.5 (Sutherland) and 44 X 40 mm. (Sweden, C. A. Westerlund), 

 Min. 42.5 X 29 mm. (Russia, Gobel). A dwarf egg from Norway measures 

 39 X 29 mm. (Newton coll.). 



Average weight of 13 British eggs 1.893 g. (Jourdain); of 17 Nor- 

 wegian 2.171 g., varying from 1.75 to 2.48 g. (Lilliestierna). Mean average 

 (30 eggs) 2.051 g. Gobel gives as average of 6 full eggs 27.08 g. 



Geographical Races. 



a. N. European Raven, C. eorax corax L. (See above), 

 b. Faeroe Raven, C. eorax varius Briinn. 



Local Names: the Fseroes: Ravmir, Korpur, Avujtravnur. Partial 

 albino : Qviijtravnur. 



C. corax varius Briinn. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 4. 



Breeding Range: the Faeroes, where it is resident, breeding in the 

 sea cliffs. The eggs appear to vary considerably in size: average of 

 5 eggs 50.12 X 34.64 mm., Max. 54 x 35.5 and 48 x 36 mm., Min. 

 46x33 mm. 



1* 



