74 RAVENS NESTING IN CONFINEMENT. 



finished the exterior framework, and then com- 

 menced lining the interior with straw, grass stems, 

 feathers, and wool, which were supplied them in 

 abundance, the male in all cases carrying up the 

 materials, and the female working them into the 

 fabric. When completed about the end of January, 

 the nest resembled that of a rook in shape and 

 general appearance, though much larger, and more 

 warmly lined inside. 



The female at this period frequently remained 

 for a considerable time in the nest, and, I believe, 

 would have deposited and hatched her eggs, had not 

 her death suddenly taken place. On dissection I 

 found the cause of death to proceed from a diseased 

 ovary. She had always appeared in perfect health 

 previously, and I greatly regretted the circumstance 

 of her death, as, to the best of my belief, no instance 

 has been yet known of the raven hatching and 

 rearing its young in confinement. 



The raven, though formerly common, is now be- 

 coming extremely rare in England, principally on 

 account of the relentless way in which nearly every 

 pair is destroyed by gamekeepers. In reality this 

 bird is far less destructive to the eggs and young of 

 game than is usually imagined, its most common 

 food consisting of field mice, worms, small reptiles, 

 and any kind of carrion ; the raven, in fact, is a 

 scavenger, not a poacher ; and though it might 



