378 The Raven 



and settle here in quest of food and not infrequently the hoarse croak 

 of a Raven may be heard in the trees nearby. In fact, these great 

 black birds come at irregular intervals all during the summer to 

 pick up such scraps of food as were available. 



In August, 1916, I saw a Raven feeding her three young with 

 scraps picked up at a garbage heap back of a hotel on the western 

 verge of the Glacier National Park in Montana. Although aware 

 that she was being watched the old Raven would unhesitatingly come 

 to the garbage heap, walk around until she found something that 

 suited her fancy, and then fly with it to the trees fifty yards away. 

 Apparently she would not suffer her young to leave the shelter ^of 

 the forest. The wide range of the croaks and cries made by the 

 young was indeed astonishing. 



Anyone who may chance to be in the mountains of western North 

 Carolina and may desire to see Ravens can usually have their wish 

 gratified by going out to some of the remote settlements and visiting 

 the places where cattle are slaughtered for market. Sometimes as 

 many as eight or ten Ravens gather around a slaughter pen and with 

 evident impatience await their opportunity for a banquet. 



From the above references it may be seen that the Raven has a 

 wide range in the United States. In fact, there are few states north 

 of South Carolina and Louisiana where it may not be seen, although 

 its range is far more restricted than in former times. Many of the 

 early writers speak of seeing Ravens in territories not now inhabited 

 by them. For example, Thomas Lawson, Gentleman, who visited 

 the coast country of Carolina in the year 1700, writes of seeing it 

 there. Today Ravens rarely if ever occur east of the mountainous 

 portions of the Carolinas. 



Regarding the habits and' manners of the Raven during the nest- 

 ing season John James Audubon has given this description in his 

 usual picturesque language. 



"Their usual places of resort are the mountains, the abrupt banks 

 of rivers, the rocky shores of lakes, and the cliffs of thinly-peopled 

 or deserted islands. It is in such places that these 

 birds must be watched and examined, before one can Audubon's 

 judge of their natural habits, as manifested amid Account 8 



their freedom from the dread of their most dan- 

 gerous enemy, the lord of creation. 



"There, through the clear and rarified atmosphere, the Raven 

 spreads his glossy wings and tail, and, as he onward sails, rises 

 higher and higher each bold sweep that he makes, as if conscious 

 that the nearer he approaches the sun, the more splendent will become 

 the tints of his plumage. Intent on convincing his mate of the fer- 

 vour and constancy of his love, He now gently glides beneath her, 

 floats in the buoyant air, or sails by her side. Would that I could 

 describe to you, reader, the many musical inflections by means of 

 which they hold converse during these amatory excursions! These 

 sounds doubtless express their pure conjugal feelings, confirmed and 

 rendered more intense by long years of happiness m each other's 



