Pennine range. In Wales perhaps some sixty pairs still breed; and in the 

 Isle of Man, Scotland, the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands and St. Kilda it is 

 not uncommon and in some districts plentiful. In Ireland it has now become 

 scarce, except on the west coast. Formerly it was generally distributed 

 over the British Isles, breeding not only in rocks and cliffs where available, 

 but also in lofty trees. At the present time nearly all our resident birds 

 nest in rocks, but interesting details of tree-breeding birds in Suffolk and 

 Essex will be found in Ootheca Wolleyana, p. 518 and the Zoologist, 

 1867, p. 599. 

 Con- Qq \\-^q Continent a few pairs still breed in Holland where large 



Europe, timber exists. In Germany the Raven has become rare, and is now chiefly 

 found in the forests of the North German plain, especially in Schleswig- 

 Holstein, Hannover, Oldenburg, Rhein-Hessen, Nassau, Westphalia, Pome- 

 rania and East Prussia. It nests in the forests of Jutland and is not 

 uncommon in Austro-Hungary. In Scandinavia it is found breeding both 

 on rocks and in trees, and is numerous in some parts, flocks of 20 to 

 50 and even 70 being occasionally met with on the northern coasts: 

 in Russia it is also widely distributed, but commonest near the sea-shore. 

 In the Balkan peninsula it is numerous, even haunting the towns, and is 

 generally distributed in the Alps, breeding in lofty pines as well as rocks: 

 as also in the Apennines. 

 Neat. Where the nest is placed among crags, a site is usually chosen 



which is well overhung by rock and in consequence is generally difficult 

 of access. In many cases alternative sites are used, but sometimes the same 

 spot is occupied year after year. On sea cliffs or rocks inland the nest is 

 a very bulky structure, built of good sized sticks, heather or furze stems 

 etc., well lined with wool, cow or deer hair and grass [Scirpus]^ while 

 old rags and bits of paper are sometimes used. The cup is about 10 inches 

 across and 5 or 6 inches deep. After the young have been some time in 

 the nest, it becomes very conspicuous from the whitewash which covers 

 it. In flat countries high trees are usually chosen and the nest is decidedly 

 smaller and more compact. In rare instances ruinous buildings have been 

 utilized (See Ussher, Birds of Ireland, p. 93; Ootheca Wolleyana, p. 514; 

 Clarke and Roebuck, Feri. Fauna of Yorks., p. 36; Hancock, Birds of 

 Northumbenand and Durham, p. 32). In Russia it is said to nest frequently 

 in church towers and even on houses. 



The eggs, which are laid on consecutive days, are usually 4 to 6 

 Eggs, or 7 in number. Complete clutches consisting of 3 eggs only are probably 

 the produce of old hens whose reproductive powers are failing. If the 

 first clutch is taken, another is deposited after an interval of 10 days and 

 this has been known to take place three or four times: but the Raven is 

 naturally single-brooded. The usual types of colouring are illustrated in 



