The Zoologist — October, 1874. 4181 



record that he has ever seen one, but quotes Mr. Jesse's ' Gleanings,' 

 for a record of a pair having once bred in Hyde Park, a statement 

 that I think must be received with caution. How different is the 

 state of things in Shetland, where the raven is a migrant as well as 

 resident: it is seen all the year round, but large numbers arrive 

 every October in addition to those which are bred on the island. 

 They feed on insects as well as carrion, and as many as forty have 

 been observed within the space of a few acres, searching diligently 

 for those larvae of Lepidoptera which feed on the roots of grass; 

 but their chief food is certainly carrion, and a great attraction is 

 the offal resulting from the annual slaughter of cattle in November. 

 This, however, is not invariably the case. 



" Sometimes they arrive ^\itliout any apparent reason, but an unusual 

 abundance of carrion is sure, by some mysterious means, to attract them 

 from distant parts. A notable instance of this occurred during the third 

 week of April, 1804, when a number of whales were driven ashore at Uyea 

 Sound, and having been 'flinched,' were left to decay above high-water 

 mark. Mauj' of the ravens, if not most of them, must have been sitting 

 upon their eggs at that time, and it therefore appears rather unaccountable 

 that as night approached a considerable number of the gorged birds would 

 flap across to the island of Uyea, where they would remain in safety until 

 daylight enabled them to return to their horrid feast. The flock was con- 

 tinually added to by new arrivals, some of them coming to procure choice 

 morsels either for their young or for their sitting mates, and the numbers 

 gradually increased until the 18th of June, after which day, the food being 

 nearly all gone, the ci'owd of birds speedily began to lessen. On visiting the 

 island of Uyea one evening about that time I was astonished to observe the 

 edge of the cliff perfectly blackened with the ravens preparing to roost among 

 the ledges. I heard several estimates of their number, but after making 

 considerable allowance for exaggeration, felt satisfied that eight hundred 

 would be very near the mark. Walking along the cliffs after they had 

 retired, and shouting to bring them out, my brother-in-law fired and killed 

 three at one shot as they flew from beneath — a previously unheard-of 

 feat."— P. 122. 



There is something horribly repulsive in the character of the 

 raven, his hand seems lifted against every one and against every 

 animal living or dead. He kills and devours ducks and poultry ; 

 the half-starved and enfeebled sheep he seems to consider his 

 lawful prey : with his powerful beak he batters their heads, picks 

 out their eyes, and feasts on the reeking entrails. The Shetland 

 pony often shares the same fate, and calves dropped away from 



SECOND SEKIES — VOL. IX. 3 C 



