9570 Birds. 



many of them have at least half a dozen. Unlike the crows, they are 

 very seldom driven by the weather to seek their food by the sea-side, 

 for the raven's harvest only begins when snow- and wind compel weakly 

 and starving animals to creep to the walls for shelter. Failing these, 

 poultrv and eggs can always be procured, and there is always corn to 

 be had in the yaids. Tliey have already committed considerable 

 damage. Scarcely a sheep or a pony lies down exhausted with cold 

 and hunger without being attacked and blinded by these mischievous 

 birds, and then left to certain death. Many attempts have been made 

 to drive the ravens from Shetland, but they have invariably failed. 

 Traps are almost useless, and guns, if effectual for a lime, soon become 

 equally so. Poison would no doubt fully answer the purpose ; but 

 whoever used it would be considered responsible for every death 

 which might occur in the farm-yards for many years afterwards. It 

 is by no means difficult to get within shooting distance of young birds, 

 but the old ones are extremely wary, especially in those parts where 

 guns are much in use. Even when they are feasting upon carrion at 

 the foot of A. high wall, it is not often that they can be approached, 

 for so suspicious are they that they will constantly interrupt their 

 meal by rising upon wing for a few feet, and then if the expectant 

 gunner be observed his chance is lost. Occasionally, however, this 

 habit defeats its own purpose, for when there happens to be any place 

 of concealment within a hundred yards or so of the spot it is easy to 

 run up as the bird disappears, and thus make certain of a shot. In a 

 case of this kind, the raven is always sadly " taken aback," and seldom 

 fails to utter a confused croaking sound as he clumsily endeavours to 

 fly off, his own haste only serving to increase his embarrassment. 

 I have often succeeded in shooting them by hiding among the bushes 

 at Ilalligarth, or by crouching in the angle of a wall which lies in their 

 track, for they have regular hunting grounds, which they traverse most 

 methodically several times in the course of the day. An angle formed 

 by the junction of two walls forms an excellent hiding-place, the side 

 which is selected depending upon the direction of the wind, for ravens, 

 like most other birds, greatly prefer flying to windward. When 

 engaged in hunting they scarcely ever cross a wall abruptly ; their 

 habit is to sail slowly along its top, keeping exactly above it, and 

 following every bend so as to be able to inspect both sides at once. 

 When birger game does not meet their view, there is always a good 

 chance of poultry. It is probable that in these situations they procure 

 the field-mice which are sometimes found in their stomachs. Ravens 

 seem to be well aware how near they may ap])roach man with 



