84 CORV1D.E. 



79. Corvus corax, Linnaeus. The Raven. 



Spanish. Cuervo. 



The Raven is found sparingly but very generally distributed on 

 the Spanish side of the Straits, but does not seem to be found on 

 the Moorish side. They are resident, and usually commence to 

 lay about the middle of March, thus, very curiously, breeding 

 later in Andalucia than in England or further north. Verner 

 found, on the 24th of May, 1878, a nest with young just hatched, 

 a few days earlier one with fledged birds, whilst in 1886, at Crete, 

 he took fresh eggs of Ravens on 26th of March, when other 

 nests had eggs or were ready for eggs. 



One pair nest at Gibraltar, and, as customary with Ravens, are 

 the terror of all birds that approach their domain. Another pair 

 nest at Casas Viejas, in the old quarry called La Cima, just 

 outside the village. 



In no case that I have seen have their nests been in anything 

 like proximity to one another, the reverse being the case with 

 Corvus tingitanus. 



General colour glossy steel-black ; throat-feathers pointed ; tail slightly 

 cuneate. Length 24 inches. 



80. Corvus tingitanus, Irby. The Tangier Raven. 



Moorish. Grab. 



This species or race appears to me to be quite distinct from 

 C. corax, and was noticed and described in 'The Ibis,' 1874 

 (p. 264). 



Smaller than the Common Raven, C. corax, its note is different, 

 while its very gregarious habits are opposed to those of our 

 common Raven ; and it is the Raven of the Canary Islands. 



Many specimens are very much marked with rusty brown on 

 the wings and tail, others very slightly so. In all that I have seen 

 there is a tinge of brown on the wings not that this coloration 

 is of any consequence in determining it as a distinct species. 

 They also breed later than C. corax does on the Spanish side. 



