164 BRITISH BIRDS 



as they are not difficult to please in the matter of food, 

 they will rear a succession of families, two or three in each 

 season, for a long series of years. 



The Scandinavian Raven is much larger than its British 

 congener, and is therefore, from a utilitarian point of 

 view in the aviary, to be preferred to the latter. 



THE RAZORBILL. 



This bird belongs to the Auk family and is pretty com- 

 mon in many parts of Britain. It is a strong flyer, and 

 very active in swimming, in and on the water, as well as 

 in diving. It is frequently to be seen at a considerable 

 distance from land, e. g., about midway between Holyhead 

 and Dublin. Its food consists of fish, which it secures by 

 diving. It is migratory in its habits, breeding in the north. 



The upper parts are dusky black, and the under pure 

 white; the greater wing coverts have white tips, which 

 form a line across the wing; there is also a white line 

 from the brown eye to the insertion of the bill, which 

 is black and crossed by a line of white near the much- 

 hooked tip. The female is exactly like the male in 

 outward appearance, and only lays one egg, in the most 

 propitious spot she can find. They often nest with the 

 Gulls and other sea birds. 



THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. See under Shrikes. 



THE REDBREAST. See Robin. 



THE RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER. See under 

 Flycatchers. 



