3 io 



PERCHING BIRDS, 



environment. The raven is an early breeder, and the birds of the English 

 fells annually repair their nests while snowdrifts are lying in deep folds on the 

 mountain sides. It sometimes happens that a raven's nest becomes swamped by 

 rain and driving sleet to such a degree that the eggs are chilled and rendered useless. 

 In the event of such a contingency arising, the breeding ravens retire to some other 

 favourite haunt, in which the female lays a fresh complement of eggs. The latter 

 are four or five in number, rarely six ; and are usually of a bluish green colour, 

 blotched and spotted with dark olive-brown, although a reddish variety is occasionally 

 obtained. The raven performs valuable services as a scavenger, and the damage 

 it does the game-preserver is infinitesimally small ; but it must be confessed that 



WHITE-BELLIED CROW (J liat. size). 



shepherds have only too good reason to complain of the injuries inflicted upon 

 ewes when dropping their lambs, for the raven readily attacks any defenceless 

 animal such as a weak lamb or a feeble fawn. 



African Crows "^ n -^^ ca ^ ne g enus i g represented by the black African rook 



(C. capensis) ; the white-necked raven (C. albicollis), which is 

 brown and black with a conspicuous black collar; the thick-billed raven 

 (C. crassirostris) ; and the white-bellied crow (C. scapulatus). This last is a 

 handsome bird, easily recognised by its black and white or parti -coloured 

 plumage. It obtains much of its food about the high roads, examining the 

 droppings of the animals that pass by, and picking the carcases of such as perish 

 on their journeys. It makes its nest in trees or in the recesses of rocks, and 



