96 RAVEN 



twigs come nearest in other localities. The interior is a 

 mixture of sheep's wool, moss, hair, fine grass, and other 

 soft materials." 



The eggs are usually three to five, rarely as many as 

 seven in number ; they are of a bluish green colour, blotted 

 with olive brown stains, which are sometimes so abundant 

 as to give an almost uniform brown appearance. In some 

 specimens, again, there are very few markings, which in 

 some cases are yellowish brown and in others dark greenish 

 brown. Occasionally the eggs are pale reddish white in 

 the ground colour and spotted with rufous brown. In size, 

 like those of the other birds of the group, they vary very 

 considerably, and may be confounded with those of the 

 Crow. 



The young are generally fledged about the end of 

 March or beginning of April. They are abroad by the 

 middle of May even in the extreme north. 



