22 FAMILIAR WILL BIRDS. 



be destroyed, it has been noticed that another pair will 

 invariably occupy the district ; so that it is seldom a 

 locality, once made the home of a pair of Ravens, will 

 be destitute of their presence. 



Although possessed of great power, and not altogether 

 devoid of courage, they invariably give way at the 

 approach of man, and though they will defend their nest 

 most valiantly against the attacks of other birds or of 

 animals, they offer not the slightest resistance to a 

 man, or even boy. But if a weakly sheep be present in a 

 flock, these birds will hover around the unfortunate 

 animal, and even perch upon it, and peck out its eyes, or 

 otherwise torture it until it dies. 



The Raven is the largest of the Crow family, and 

 is a bird of striking character. Its attributes are well 

 known, for the pens of historians, poets, and novelists 

 have all been brought to bear upon the Raven. Dickens 

 has introduced the Raven with great success in " Barnaby 

 Rudge/' whilst Edgar Allan Poe delineates its weird 

 power over superstitious imaginations. In many parts of 

 this country, the flight of a Raven across one's path is 

 enough to make the heart of the boldest rustic quake, 

 whilst to hear its unspeakably horrid croak from the 

 bough of an adjacent tree is held to be prognostic of the 

 direst calamities. Indeed, no end could be made to the 

 many local superstitions connected with the Raven. 



The Raven is distributed over the whole of England, 

 Wales and Scotland, and Europe generally. Its presence 

 is easily detected, for its never-to-bc-mistaken croak can 

 be heard at a very great distance. They fly at a very 

 great height, either singly or in pairs, but congregate in 

 greater numbers whenever there is a prospect of carrion. 



