RAVEN. 77 



bough, so that the tree often comes to be called the 

 " Raven Tree ". 



The eggs, four to seven in number, very much 

 resemble those of the Rook and Crow ; but they are 

 of course much larger. Like the eggs of these birds 

 they vary very much in markings ; the ground colour 

 is of a light green shade, the markings vary from pale 

 grey and light green to dark dull olive, and dark 

 yellowish green. 



It is hardly necessary to add that the Raven, when 

 taken young, can be easily trained and made very 

 tame. He will also learn to talk with almost as much 

 fluency as a Parrot. The last we had amongst our 

 tame birds at Queenwood was, I think, in 1881.* He 

 was a powerful bird and on one occasion took posses- 

 sion of a staircase leading to an upstairs class-room, 

 and refused to allow his owner or any one to pass, 

 attacking viciously the legs of those who approached 

 him. Needless to say, a peck from his beak was not 

 eagerly courted by the boys. 



The note of the Raven is a harsh croak, somewhat 

 like " craugh " in sound. Amongst other things he 

 possesses wonderfully keen sight and smell, and many 

 extraordinary incidents are related of his capacity in 

 these respects. 



* Summer, 1881, Qd. Notes. " For the greater part of the 

 day it strutted about near the schools in a solemn, ungainly 

 manner, and, if allowed, it would roost for the night on the 

 stairs near the first class-room. It vigorously resisted any 

 one who attempted to dislodge it from its quarters, and some- 

 times would, even when unprovoked, make an attack on any 

 small boy who attempted to pass. 



