42 IN NATURE'S WAYS 



this he thought happened when they scratched with 

 one foot, and lost balance. 



Among the raven's good qualities is that of faith- 

 fulness ; he pairs for life. And when not persecuted he 

 is faithful to one tree, returning to the same nest 

 spring after spring. Hence in the New Forest and in 

 other parts his favourite trees have been known through 

 centuries as " raven trees," or " raven clumps." 



He has been persecuted almost out of existence, 

 only holding his own in such wild, rugged strongholds 

 as the northern coast of Scotland. We have often 

 been to visit raven-trees, and ravens' woods, and 

 found the names printed on maps ; but alas ! the 

 black brotherhood of the ravens has vanished, and the 

 high old trees are tenanted now by doves and starlings. 



Gamekeepers and shepherds have exterminated or 

 banished nearly all our ravens. They were ever in 

 the keeper's black books, though he might have given 

 them credit for bringing home rats for their young, 

 and rats are deadly enemies of game ; but they were 

 shot without mercy. For they would kill any hare, 

 pheasant, or partridge which was wounded, and were 

 great robbers of eggs ; on the rugged cliffs where they 

 are still found they freely plunder the gulls' nests. 

 The farmer hated them because they took his ducks, 

 geese, or chickens. The shepherd dreaded them 

 because they pecked out the eyes of young weakly 

 lambs and attacked ailing or dying ewes. 



In hard weather it would be almost impossible for the 

 raven to live an honest life ; he must become a poacher, 

 though by nature he is rather a scavenger, preferring 

 to feed on carrion than to attack living creatures. 

 When he can pick up dead animal remains, his sharp 

 bill, aided by his wonderful sense of smell and wonderful 

 eyesight, can work to satisfy his ghoul-like appetite ; 



