ROOKS AND THEIR RELATIVES 



THAT fine bird, the raven, will soon be a lost link in 

 England, unless some ardent lovers of the ornaments 

 of our woods and hills procure protection for him in 

 some way or other. Some years back he was fre- 

 quently to be seen. I have known him breed within 

 half a mile of a country town on a gentleman's estate ; 

 a pair built their nest in a great ragged Scotch fir, 

 but after their young ones had been taken from them 

 twice to be kept as domestic pets, they deserted their 

 quarters and were not seen there again. 



The raven is a handsome bird ; his jet-black 

 plumage shows flashes of blue and purple ; and when 

 a little excited the feathers on his throat are puffed 

 out, the wings drooped, and he half hops, half walks 

 round his dwelling-place, crying * cruk-cruk-croak ! ' 

 continually cocking his head, first on one side, then 

 on the other, if any one stops to admire him. His 

 bright eyes will take in all the surroundings in a 

 most wide-awake manner ; you will not catch him 



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