180 RAVENS. 



them with fierce cries. This antipathy to their young (which 

 by several authors has been considered as peculiar to Ravens) 

 has been remarked by many, who have not only known them 

 to show great indifference to any young ones accidentally 

 thrown out of the nest, but have further ascertained that the 

 parents actually devour them. 



But we do not believe this want of feeling to be peculiar to 

 Havens ; on the contrary, in an aviary where several Canaries 

 build annually, instances repeatedly occur of young birds falling 

 out of the nest, when, if they are of very tender age, the old 

 ones seem to show no uneasiness whatever ; hopping or flying 

 over them with the greatest unconcern, though the poor naked 

 birds may be struggling for life. 



We have yet, indeed, much to learn respecting the real 

 extent and quality of the affection of animals for their young ; 

 for in the case of Canaries we have known, if wet or cold 

 weather chanced to continue for a day or two, not only nests 

 containing eggs, but others, with nearly full-fledged nestlings, 

 requiring all a mother's care, to be at once abandoned, and left 

 to perish by cold or hunger. 



On the 2d of June 1833, a Canary-bird in an aviary was 

 unexpectedly drenched, having built her nest, during dry 

 weather, in a spot exposed to rain, which fell in a heavy 

 shower on that day. On the following day she accordingly 

 quitted her nest, and appeared so unwell, that it was deemed 

 expedient to remove her into a small cage, and place her in 

 a warmer situation. But to our great surprise a Goldfinch, 

 which had been in confinement with the Canary-birds for 

 three or four years, without paying any attention to the nests, 

 immediately took her place, and continued to sit very closely, 

 though uselessly, over the chilled and lifeless eggs, which were 

 completely addled. 



At all events, while sitting or rearing its progeny, the 

 Raven deserves the highest credit for persevering attachment, 

 and has been known (though one of the shyest and most 

 suspicious of birds) to die rather than desert its post. Mr. 

 White, the naturalist, of Selborne, speaks of an old oak as his 

 Raven-tree, which bulged out into a large excrescence in the 



