More about Ravens 215 



got it into position outside a bit of ruined wall, I proceeded 

 to build a substantial shelter, a few feet away, beneath the 

 pendent branches of a silver fir that overhung the wall, the 

 shelter being, of course, inside the wood, and away from the 

 bait. The hillside fell abruptly down from the wall, and 

 the slope was thinly covered with trees, there being a fair 

 clump at the back of my particular fir. There were stones, 

 sticks, and braken in profusion, with which to build, and 

 very soon I had a comfortable hut made, large enough to 

 give me room to move about a little inside, and the only 

 thing that remained to be done was to arrange an opening 

 in the wall for the lens. This could be done for the most 

 part from the inside, so as to leave the coast quite clear in 

 case any Ravens should pass. While I was busy at it, but 

 not half ready, a distant croak was heard, and presently a 

 pair of Ravens were soaring overhead. Of course, there 

 was nothing for it but to remain absolutely still, and await 

 developments, to get the camera into position for these 

 sitters being quite out of the question ; and in twenty 

 minutes or so, having satisfied themselves by soaring back- 

 wards and forwards that all was well, both birds were sitting 

 on the top of my silver fir, perhaps twenty yards above me. 

 Here they exchanged notes for some time, in subdued voices, 

 which fancy might interpret somewhat as follows : " Right ? " 

 queried one. "Doubt it," answered his more suspicious 

 neighbour. " Go long," said number one. " Right oh," 

 responded number two, and dropped several feet nearer the 

 sheep. This kind of conversation was kept up for some 

 time, till one bird perched boldly on the moor, close to the 

 sheep ; no sooner had he done so, however, than something 

 roused the suspicions of his mate, for with a loud " Cave " 

 it left the tree, followed instantly by the bird on the ground, 

 and in a few seconds both were soaring far overhead again ; 

 nor did they return. What it was that frightened them I 

 could form no idea : I don't think it was anything to do 



7 J O 



with me, unless it could have been smell, and that, especi- 

 ally in the light of future experiences, seems to be most 

 improbable. In fact, I hardly believe in the popular idea 

 that birds of any kind can " wind " either prey, or an enemy, 



