RAVENS NESTING IN CONFINEMENT. 75 



occasionally kill a young rabbit or leveret, I am 

 convinced that stoats, weasels, and more especially 

 the common brown rat, commit infinitely more 

 havoc among game of all kinds than any of our 

 native birds of prey, with perhaps the exception of 

 the peregrine falcon in localities where there are 

 large tracts of moorland devoted to the preservation 

 of grouse, and where there is comparatively little 

 cover for the game. 



In a wild state the raven builds its nest in the 

 most inaccessible situations, generally on the faces 

 of high precipitous cliffs, and occasionally in lofty 

 trees. 



A most interesting account of the nesting habits 

 of a pair of ravens is narrated by Mr. Knox, in his 

 work, Ornithology of Sussex. Petworth Park, 

 in that county, was the locality selected by the 

 birds. Professor Newton, in Hewitson's Eggs of 

 British Birds, also describes the nesting habits of 

 the raven in England. In this case the nest was 

 built in one of some tall Scotch fir-trees standing 

 by themselves on an extensive heath in the vicinity 

 of Elveden, Suffolk. He mentions that when un- 

 disturbed the old pair usually refurnished their last 

 year's nest, lining it with rabbit's down. The 

 number of eggs was commonly five, but sometimes 

 four ; and on one occasion six were deposited. 

 During the period of incubation, the male was 



