COBVUS TINGITANUS. 85 



This Raven is exceedingly abundant around Tangier and along 

 the coast as far as some distance south of Larache. We did not 

 observe any in the high parts about Apes' Hill. Outside Tangier, 

 flocks of them may be seen feeding on the refuse which is carried 

 from the town and thrown on the sea-shore. They are exceedingly 

 tame to the natives, being viewed with superstitious awe by the 

 Moors, but are wide awake to the European, especially if he 

 carries a gun, and if once fired at are not likely to give a second 

 chance. The only way to be sure of getting them is at their 

 nest, which, constructed of sticks, neatly lined with grass and 

 small roots, is built in clefts of rocks, on trees and in low bushes ; 

 one nest which I saw was fixed in the crook or angle formed by 

 a dead flowering stalk of the aloe (Agave americana), which had 

 fallen across another stalk in full flower. 



The eggs are usually laid about the 20th of April, and vary in 

 number from five to seven, and, like those of others of the Crow 

 tribe, differ much in the markings. Favier in his MS. says of 

 this Raven, under the head of C. corax, " This species is another 

 of those birds for which the Mahometans evince a superstitious 

 feeling, the liver, tongue, brain, and heart of the Raven being 

 considered antidotes against the effects of the evil one ; the same 

 virtues are attributed to the feathers and heart of the Hoopoe. 

 The Raven is the only species of Crow found in the neighbourhood 

 of Tangier, and is very abundant." 



It seems that this African Raven crosses the Straits, as Verner 

 reports having, near Gibraltar, taken a nest, apparently of this 

 bird, but was unable to trap or shoot an old bird. He also reports 

 having seen " small Ravens," and " forty small Ravens were seen 

 together near Tarifa," " fifty Ravens were seen together " on the 

 29th of April, 1880, near the 1st River; while another officer 

 noticed forty-two together near Palmones on 23rd of April. 



Resembles the Common Raven, but has the throat-hackles not so long, 

 and is much smaller in size. Length 18*5 inches, wing 14*5, tail 8, tarsus 

 2*5, bill from gape 2'5. 



