RAVENS 93 



course through the heavens. Of course, at any 

 reasonable range, the bird's huge, Jewish nose and 

 bulky figure let you into its identity immediately ; 

 and its croak, once heard, can never be forgotten, 

 or confused with the cry of any other " courier 

 of the air." 



Omnivorous in its diet, scarce anything edible 

 fails to whet the Raven's fancy from shell-fish, 

 sea-refuse, carrion, and garbage generally, to 

 wounded, and even unwounded, small mammals 

 and birds, particularly the " cheepers " of game- 

 birds, which it swallows whole. But it seldom 

 lets its thoughts stray to the dainties of the poultry- 

 yard. Mutton, however, and very particularly 

 mutton, may be included in the bill of fare, and 

 it is to be feared that many an ewe could tell a 

 piteous tale of a fatal shadow, dusky, flapping, 

 wings, and a bill of iron savagely applied to her 

 new-born lamb. The ewes themselves, too, when 

 in difficulties, either during the dread moment of 

 parturition, or if foundered hopelessly in a cleft of 

 the rocks, do not escape its unwelcome attentions, 

 in which latter case at any rate, long ere death 

 from starvation ensues, the tired, frightened eyes 

 are gouged out to become daintiest of morsels to 

 the Raven. For this atrocity the bird is cordially 

 detested on most sheep-walks, where it is generally 

 vouschafed little protection, but is, on the con- 

 trary, poisoned, trapped, and shot under any and 

 every pretext. Some keepers and shepherds. 



