CORVIIXE. 



farmed and preserved counties it should be rapidly 

 becoming extinct. 



The nest of the Raven is usually placed in some 

 inaccessible cliff, and, if possible, a place is picked 

 out which has an overhanging rock above, so that 

 the eggs or young may not be destroyed by stones or 

 other things thrown down upon them. Where cliffs 

 and high rocks are not to be found the Raven builds 

 its nest in high trees. The nest is made of sticks, 

 with a lining of wool and hair. * 



The Raven is easily kept in confinement, and be- 

 comes very tame and amusing: it may also be 

 taught to imitate the human voice, and this it does 

 with considerable success, in some cases nearly 

 equalling the Parrot. Amongst the British birds 

 this power of imitating the human voice seems to be 

 confined to the Starling and the present family of 

 Corvidse, many of which have this power as well as 

 the Raven. 



The Raven is a grand, powerful bird : the beak is 

 black ; hides brown and grey ; the whole plumage 

 is black, glossed with blue ; the feathers on the neck 

 and throat are long and pointed and more glossy than 

 any of the rest of the feathers ; legs, toes and claws 

 shining black. 



The egg of the Raven is much like that of the 

 Crow or the Rook, but larger of course; Yarrell 



* Yarrell, vol. ii., p. 67. 



