On Mountain and Loch. 87 



flying to an fro before the rugged cliff. The Raven, 

 we are glad to say, is a familiar bird still among the 

 mountains of the north. The time has gone for 

 ever when we could number this fine species as a 

 denizen of the mountains of the Peak and some 

 other English uplands, although we have heard that 

 it still nests amongst the hills of the Lake district. 

 The hoarse croak of the Raven is one of the most 

 familiar bird -notes heard among the Highlands. 

 Notwithstanding gun, trap, and poison, the bird 

 somehow or another still maintains its position; 

 possibly its excessive cunning and wariness are the 

 chief means of its salvation. This bird is one of the 

 few species indigenous to both the north and south 

 of England that is still commonest in some of the 

 southern shires. In Devonshire, especially, it is by 

 no means uncommon, both on the central plateau of 

 Dartmoor as well as along the rock-bound coasts. 

 Indeed, until within the past few years it used to 

 breed within a mile or so of Torquay. We own to 

 a special weakness for the Raven notwithstanding 

 his questionable means of getting a livelihood. He 

 has been our sole companion in many a rocky glen, 

 and cheered us by his wicked croaking on many a 

 lonely ramble over the wild hills of the north. We 

 specially recall his lively ways at St. Kilda, when 

 of an evening we used to wander up the heights of 

 Connacher to watch the Fulmars and admire the 



