36 NORTH CAROLINA 



Here at Highlands, this little hamlet perched 

 far up in a mountain wilderness, ravens were 

 common, so I had read ; and as I purposed 

 remaining in the place for two or three 

 weeks, I should no doubt see much of them, 

 and so be able not only to " check the name," 

 thus adding the species to my set of the 

 Corvidce, but to acquire some real familiarity 

 with the bird's voice and ways. Such was 

 my dream ; but certainty began to fade into 

 uncertainty from the day I drove into the 

 mountains. 



One of my first village calls, after a day's 

 ramble in the country round about, was upon 

 the apothecary, who sat sunning himself on 

 the stoop in front of his shop, a cheerful 

 example of how idyllic a life " tending store " 

 may become under favorable conditions. To 

 begin with, as was natural, not to say obliga- 

 tory, between a newcomer and an old resi- 

 dent, the altitude and climate of the place 

 were discussed. Then, as soon as I could do 

 so with politeness, I asked about ravens. 



"Ravens?" said the doctor. "Ravens?" 

 Surely the inflection was not encouraging. 

 There were no ravens, so far as he knew. 



" But the books say they are common 

 here." 



