CEOWS IN LONDON 27 



the raven disappeared some one had stolen 

 him ; but after an absence of several weeks he 

 reappeared in the park with clipped wings. His 

 disposition, too, had suffered a change : he moped 

 a good deal, and finally one morning was found 

 dead in the Serpentine. It was surmised that 

 he had drowned himself from grief at having 

 been deprived of the power of flight. 



A few ravens have since visited London. In 

 1850 a keeper in Eegent's Park observed two of 

 these birds engaged in a savage fight, which 

 ended in the death of one of the combatants. 



In March 1890 a solitary raven appeared in 

 Kensington Gardens, and remained there for 

 several weeks. A keeper informed me that it 

 was captured and taken away. If this unfor- 

 tunate raven had known his London better, he 

 would not have chosen a royal park for a 

 residence. 



Was this Kensington raven, it has been 

 asked, a wild bird, or a strayed pet, or an escaped 

 captive ? I believe the following incident will 

 throw some light on the question. 



For many years past two or three ravens have 

 usually been kept at the Tower of London. 

 About seven years ago, as near as I can make 



