NOTES AND QUERIES. 109 
Ravens in Cumberland.—While staying in Cumberland last spring I 
determined to try and find a Raven’s nest. These noble birds are still not 
uncommon in the Lake District, but, like the Buzzard, have suffered much 
from persecution. Forty or fifty years ago there was a certain fixed day 
upon which the farmers went round to the nests in their neighbourhood and 
shot the young birds outside them. A reward of I think half-a-crown was 
given for every Raven's head. Last year, after visiting several well-known 
breeding-places, I found a nest evidently containing eggs, to judge from the 
movements of the old birds. Long before we came to the nest the old 
Ravens circled over our heads, uttering from time to time their hoarse 
croak. The nest was placed on a ledge of rock about midway down a cliff 
of 150 ft., and 30 ft. above the nest the rock began to overhang. Having 
only one man with me I was unable to descend. This was on April 2nd; 
I came again on the 3rd, with a friend and two men to lower me, and they 
let me down to within about 15 ft. of the nest. The rock overhung con- 
siderably, and, as I had no stick to steady myself, I swung round in the 
most uncomfortable manner ; the guy-rope, which was a new one, having 
become twisted round the body-rope, caused me to spin round with con- 
siderable velocity. ‘The consequence of this twisting was to tighten up the 
ropes; and when they untwisted, my idea was that the rope was giving way. 
For what seemed ages to me, I remained twirling in mid-air; at last I was 
gradually pulled up. I had seen the eggs below me, and determined I 
would get them, if possible. One of the men was much exhausted, and 
all three sturdily refused to let me down again that day; they had heard 
my first call from below, but so faintly that they could not distinguish what 
I said, and imagined I simply wanted to stop still. On April 5th I came 
again, with three men to lower and my friend to stand below and signal. 
The farmer, who lived in the valley, lent me another man and a strong two- 
pronged alpenstock, wishing me every success. I brought a long fishing- 
rod with me with a small net at the end made of gauze, like a butterfly-net. 
Before we arrived at the spot we were joined by another man ; I had thus 
five men to lower me, and my friend to signal below. Being gently lowered, 
I steadied myself with the alpenstock, and at length got to my old position. 
Holding the stock firmly in one hand, I managed with the other to get the 
six eggs into the net, and to ascend again without breaking them. The five 
men hauled me up in grand style, very different from the laborious 
exertions on the last occasion. ‘The farmer who owned the valley was 
delighted, saying that he frequently lost sickly lambs in spring, and that 
the nest had never been taken before. Isubsequently found three Ravens’ 
nests, but did not take any of them, though two were in a much easier place 
than the one I took. I found a Buzzard’s nest on April 1st in an unfinished 
state. On the 8th inst. the nest was much more finished; I never visited 
it again, but learned from an old keeper, who used to accompany me in my 
rambles, that one of the old birds was subsequently shot and the uest 
