RAVENS 107 



resident birds, comparatively late in going to nest. 

 Now, as a rule, a particular form of food for the 

 expected young governs to a large extent the time 

 a bird chooses for the rearing of a brood. Were 

 the crows not carrion -feeders, it would be evident 

 that the Raven nested thus early, so as to come 

 in for the thick of the lambing season in April, 

 during which month and the first part of May its 

 young are in the eyrie. I am disposed to think, 

 however, that the Raven is more of a carrion-eater 

 than the crows, especially in regard to " mutton," 

 on which the young are largely nourished, a fact 

 which amply accounts for the bird's early breeding : 

 for, putting aside the lambs, there is always a 

 greater mortality amongst the ewes during the 

 early spring, from parturition and other sources, 

 than at any other time of year. 



Ravens, both young and old, eject through the 

 mouth the indigestible portions of their food in 

 the form of pellets, as in the manner of hawks, 

 owls, and some others and, indeed of all the 

 crow tribe. 



A sentence or so on the Raven's aerial tumble, 

 and I must conclude. It is a peculiar exhibition. 

 The performer turns a half somersault sideways, 

 generally from left to right, closes its wings, and 

 actually drifts along on its back for a short distance, 

 resembling, when so behaving, an aeroplane gone 

 wrong ; but the recovery, or return to normal 

 flight, is effected like lightning. Sometimes a 



