THE DESCHUTES RAVEN 39 



Says the writer: 



" They will tag with one another in midair 

 and often tumble down a fathom or two, as if 

 shot, to turn right over on their backs, in sheer 

 merriment ; when the wind is high, the tempest- 

 loving birds shoot up in the air like a rocket or 

 a towering partridge, to an immense height ; and 

 then, by closing their wings, drop, in a series of 

 rapid jerks and plunges, which they can check 

 at pleasure, down to the ground. The male raven, 

 while his mate is sitting, keeps anxious watch 

 over her, and croaks savagely when any one 

 approaches, or sallies forth in eager tournament, 

 against any rook, or crow, or hawk, or larger 

 bird of prey which intrudes on his domain. 



" If you can manage to evade his watchful 

 eye, and enter the wood unobserved, you can, 

 sometimes, lie down quite still, in sight of the 

 nest and note all that is going on. You will see 

 him perch upon the very top of an adjoining fir tree, 

 or whet his beak, as he is fond of doing, against 

 one of its branches, or fiercely tear off others and 

 drop them below. You will hear him utter a 

 low gurgling note of conjugal endearment, which 

 will, sometimes, lure his mate from her charge, 



