400 THE GAME PRESERVER'S GUIDE. 



THE RAVEN (Corvus corax). 



The Raven is now becoming rare in this country, being 

 destroyed by the shepherds from its fondness for lamb, and 

 by the keepers on account of its propensity to take the young 

 of all species of game, as well as the eggs of game birds, of 

 which it is particularly fond. It also devours reptiles, 

 insects, carrion of all kinds, and even grain when animal 

 food is not to be obtained. It is chiefly found on high 

 mountain rocks, or on the seacoast, in extensive woodlands, 

 or open plains, where its strong sight and keen powers of 

 scent render it difficult to approach. The length of the 

 male is twenty-four to twenty-six inches^ ; beak black ; 

 feathers of the nostrils an inch long; iris brown and grey ; 

 plumage black, with a gloss of purple ; legs, toes, and claws, 

 black. The female is smaller than the male, and her feathers, 

 like those of young birds, have less brilliancy and lustre. 

 Ravens breed early in the year, beginning to build in 

 February. The nest is placed on the highest tree in the 

 neighbourhood, on the fork of a branch. It is formed of 

 sticks, lined with wool and hair. The eggs are four or five, 

 two inches long by one inch four lines. The ground colour 

 is a pale green, spotted and mottled with olive green and 

 brown. Ravens keep in pairs all the year round. 



THE CARRION CROW (Corvus cor one). 



This bird resembles the raven in all but length, which is 

 about eighteen to nineteen inches. It is also called the Gir Crow 

 and Flesh Crow. Wooded countries are their chief habitat, and 

 here they are constantly on the look-out for dead horses, cows, 

 or sheep, in default of which they destroy weakly lambs, or 

 capture young leverets and rabbits, as well as the young of the 

 winged game. Like the raven also, this bird breeds early, the 

 nest being placed on the forked branches of a tree, and made 

 of the same materials. The eggs are four or five, of a pale 

 bluish green mottled and speckled with ash colour and brown; 

 length, one inch eight lines ; breadth, one inch two lines. 



