78 THE RAVEX. 



Sussex, until one day in March, 1843, when, riding in the park 

 near a clump of tall " old beech trees, whose trunks had been de- 

 nuded by time of all their lower branches, my attention was sud- 

 denly arrested by the never-to-be-mistaken croak of a Raven, and 

 the loud chattering of a flock of Jackdaws. 



" I soon perceived that these were the especial objects of his 

 hatred and hostility ; for after dashing into the midst of them, 

 and executing several rapid movements in the air, he succeeded 

 in effectually driving them to a considerable distance from his 

 nest. During this manoeuvre, the superior size of the Raven 

 became more apparent than when viewed alone, and his power of 

 flight was advantageously exhibited by comparison with, that of 

 his smaller congener. The latter, indeed, seemed to bear about 

 the same relation to him, in point of size, that Starlings do to 

 Rooks, when seen together. The Raven's nest was placed on a 

 fork, in the very summit of one of the highest of these trees, 

 while their hollow trunks were tenanted by a numerous colony 

 of Jackdaws. Some of the holes through which these entered 

 were so near the ground, that I had no difficulty in reaching them 

 when on horseback, while others were situated at a much greater 

 height. These conducted to the chambers in which the nests 

 were placed, and which were generally far removed from the ex- 

 ternal aperture, by which the birds entered their tower-like 

 habitation. On thrusting my whip upwards into many of these 

 passages, I found it impossible to touch the further extremity, 

 while a few cavities of smaller dimensions were within reach of 

 my hand, and contained nests, constructed of short, dry sticks, 

 some of which were incomplete, while in others one or two eggs 

 had been deposited. The next day I returned to the place on 

 foot, provided with a spyglass, for the purpose of observation. 

 On my arrival, I found that the Ravens were absent, and that the 

 Jackdaws, availing themselves of this, had congregated in con- 

 siderable numbers, and were as busily employed about their ha- 

 bitations as a swarin of bees ; some carrying materials for the 

 completion of their frail and yet unfinished nests, others convey 

 ing food to their mates, and all apparently making the most of 

 their time, during the absence of their tormentors. There being 

 no cover or brushwood at hand, and the branches being yet leaf- 

 less, I was unable to conceal myself effectually ; but having sat 

 down at the foot of the tree containing their nest, I awaited the 

 return of the Ravens. JSTearly an hour elapsed before the return 

 of the male bird, and I was first made aware of his approach by 

 the consternation it appeared to spread among the Jackdaws. 

 Like most animals under similar circumstances, when conscious 

 of the approach of danger, they rapidly collected their forces on 

 a single tree, keeping up all the time an incessant chattering, each 



