428 Practical Game Preserving. 



extreme, the raven still finds localities suitable to its taste, 

 and spots where it can with comfort eke out the days of 

 its varied existence, a menace to all birds smaller than 

 itself, and ready to defy the supremacy even of the eagle, 

 should any venture to intrude upon its fastnesses. The 

 raven is decidedly a large bird, measuring about 2ft. in 

 total length, by some 4in. to 4iin., while the width across 

 the wings, when full grown, is about 3ft. Its flight is 

 remarkably elegant for a bird so ungainly on the ground, 

 and is, moreover, exceedingly powerful, alternating between 

 rapid directness and a short hovering motion, either pro- 

 duced seemingly without the slightest exertion. These 

 birds live for the most part in pairs, the same two mating 

 off in successive years until death or other casualty causes 

 a separation, the pair remaining in company at all times, 

 except, of course, during the nesting season, when a close 

 companionship is impossible ; but as soon as the young 

 are large enough to fly, the two old ones join them until 

 the progeny throw off the parental yoke, when they again 

 return to the enjoyment of their former solitary life. The 

 nest or eyrie of the raven is usually formed in the interstices 

 of some rocky crag, offering sufficient space, together 

 with security from human beings, or placed upon the 

 topmost branches of some high tree, beyond the reach of 

 harm. The nest is invariably large, as, besides being 

 from 2ft. to 3ft. wide, it is added to year after year until 

 sometimes quite a monstrosity in nests is the result ; sticks, 

 lined with fibre, roots, hair, and wool form the materials- 

 The young ravens are the object of considerable solicitude 

 on the part of their parents, who are ever bent on providing 



