256 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



Hickling, two miles from Waxham. I have examined 

 it, and find it to be a beautiful male specimen of the 

 minor grakle (Gfracula religiosa, Lewin), the only one, 

 I believe, ever killed in England. * * * From 

 the appearance of its plumage when shot, from the 

 look of its feet, claws, and beak, it seems never to 

 have been a caged bird." In a subsequent note in the 

 same journal (p. 2496), Mr. Cater adds a few other, 

 but immaterial, remarks, on the appearance of this 

 grakle, in answer to doubts expressed by one or two 

 correspondents as to its being a genuine wild specimen. 



CORVUS CORAX, Linnaeus. 



RAYEN. 



It is strange to observe the changes effected by local 

 causes in the habits of certain species, some as suddenly 

 and rapidly increasing in numbers, as others, yielding to 

 an inevitable fate, become scarce by degrees and finally 

 extinct. The Raven in its past and present history 

 exhibits a remarkable illustration of this law of nature. 

 Sir Thos. Browne, about two hundred years ago, describes 

 this species as "in great plenty near Norwich, and on 

 this account it is there are so few kites seen hereabouts." 

 From that time till the commencement of the present 

 century, probably but little alteration in its numbers 

 occurred, as, in 1829, Mr. Hunt remarks, in his Norfolk 

 " List," " This bird is found in woods, &c., in every 

 part of the county." Our next records, however, tell a 

 far different story Messrs. Gurney and Fisher, in 1846, 

 speaking of it " as still breeding in Norfolk, but in small 

 and decreasing numbers ;" and Mr. Lubbock, in the pre- 

 vious year, remarks, "It is seldom found breeding 

 here ; when it does so, its nest is sure to be plundered. 



