CHAPTER VI 



Watching Ravens, Curlews, Eider-ducks, etc, 



A PAIR of ravens on our island are also molested 

 by the gulls, and when either of them flies from one 

 point to another of the coast in their neighbourhood 

 its path is marked by a constant succession of " annoy- 

 ing incidents " of this nature. That these stately birds 

 should have to put up with rudeness from mere gulls 

 does not seem right ; but so it is, nor did I ever see 

 either of the two make any serious attempt to over- 

 awe them. Personally, I must say that I was at first 

 so little impressed by these ravens, that for a long 

 time I did them the injustice of looking upon them 

 as carrion crows. Certainly, the hoarse, bellowing 

 croak which they uttered as they flew round when 

 disturbed by me impressed me and made me wonder, 

 but their size appeared altogether incompatible with 

 the state of being a raven. I suppose the great frown- 

 ing precipices over which they commonly circled had 

 I 129 



