255 



A WARY POTTr.TKY THIKF. 



The Raven is \prv shy, yef 1k' will oreasionnlly coraH 

 around I'aiiii Itiiildiiigs, in Ihv iicMji'liboiliood of hi.s 

 favorite haunis in the niountain wilds, to catcli vonn^' 

 poultry or hunt a hen's nest, especially that of I he 

 turkey which so often wanders some distance from 

 her owner's building to hatch. The damage, however, 

 to domesticated fowls by Ravens in Pennsylvania is, 

 I am sure, very insignificant. 



TIIEY DESTROY EGGS AND NESTLINGS. 



From evidence in my possession I am fully con- 

 vinced that Ravens, like their dark-coated relations, 

 the Crows, do devour the eggs and young of many 

 wild birds. Game birds, such as the Ruffed Grouse 

 and Wild Turkey, woodsmen say, suffer considerably, 

 dui'ing the periods when they have eggs and broods 

 o-f young, from sly and unexpected visits of these cun- 

 ning and able-bodied corvine birds. If a Turkey or 

 Pheasant, with her children, remains in the locality 

 and the fact becomes known to a pair of Ravens, the 

 chances are, hunters say, that the Ravens will watch 

 the place almost constantly, day after day, until they 

 have destroyed or driven away the mother and her 

 family of youngsters. 



(\\PTURE RABBITS AND GROUSE. 



Ravens unquestionably kill a good many young 

 Hares and they also sometimes attack and overpower 

 the old ones, particularly when the latter are en 

 feebled by disease or wounded by human hunters or 

 o1:her animals which prey on them. Rabbits and 

 Pheasants entrapped in snares, (which, by the way, 

 cannot legally be used in Pennsylvania) if found l>y 



