84 GAME PRESERVERS AXD BIRD PRESERVERS. 



CHAPTER VIE. 



THE RAVEX, THE CROW, THE MAGPIE, THE JA1\ 

 AXD THE ROOK. 



The raven is a bird wliicli most gentlemen 

 agree ought to be exempted from protection. 

 Mr. R. Gray says 'it is well known for its 

 cruel rapacity on sheep farms.' Dr. Giinther 

 considers it very mischievous. It is not so 

 rare as some people think. We have seen 

 twenty-six in a flock, and it is cunning enough 

 to breed often in such inaccessible situations 

 that it is not likely to become extinct for many 

 years. The nest is composed of a mass of 

 sticks placed on the ledge of a rock, and it 

 lays generally three eggs as early as the end 

 of March, so that the young ones are strong 



