496 THE RAVEN. 



out its young before most other birds begin to build. In- 

 deed, these young Jays are already flying by the time most 

 of our migratory birds arrive. The nest, placed in the 

 thick part of a tree, is built of twigs, hay arid moss, and is 

 lined with fine fibrous roots, like that of the Blue Jay. 

 The eggs, about 1.20X-?0, are gray or grayish-white, marked 

 all over, but more especially at the butt, with several shades 

 of a neutral tint, and with spots of dark olive-brown. This 

 species breeds from northern New England to 39, and 

 down in the Rocky Mountains probably to Colorado. It 

 sometimes strays to the Middle States in winter. 



THE RAVEN. 



A very common bird-voice, in Nova Scotia, is the hoarse 

 croak of the Raven (Coruus corax]. This bird is much 

 oftener heard than seen, however, for it is too shy and wary 

 to make its appearance except in the distance. Then it is 

 readily distinguishable from the Crow by its much greater 

 size. Occasionally, especially if you are riding in some 

 conveyance, it will perch near by and in full sight, when its 

 size, its loose flowing plumage, and its thick, gull-like bill, 

 mark it unmistakably. In flight it may differ very materially 

 from the Crow, soaring high and majestically, after the 

 manner of the large Buzzards or the Eagle, though its ordi- 

 nary beating flight is quite crow-like. 



For the most part the Raven is a bird of the north, and 

 is partly migratory. Retired woodland lakes and streams, 

 solitary cataracts, rushing rapids in deep ravines, forest-clad 

 cliffs of great rivers, wooded islands out in the ocean, and 

 lonely beetling crags about the sea, are the haunts of this 

 majestic and mysterious bird. Perhaps from a natural 

 aversion to man, but more probably from being constantly 

 persecuted by him, it disappears entirely from the more 



