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THE RAVEN. 



Corvus Corax, Linn. 



Is distributed over the island, and more especially to 

 be seen within a day's foray of the rocks in which it 

 roosts or builds. 



As sites for the raven's nest, rocks are here preferred to trees, 

 and wherever there is a range of cliffs suited to the purpose, tins 

 bird is sure to be found, unless the eagle or buzzard monopolize 

 the locality, a remark which applies to the islets off the coast — 

 as the Copeland, Rathlin, Tory, &c, — as well as to the mainland. 

 In the range of lofty precipitous cliffs, called the Gobbins, rising 

 directly above the sea, a pair of ravens build. Their nest here, 

 in 1847, was robbed of its eggs ; a new nest was then constructed, 

 and the eggs, six in number each time, met with a similar fate. 

 From time immemorial ravens have been considered to inhabit 

 the same rock. In the lower districts of England, certain trees 

 have for such a length of time been resorted to by this species for 

 nesting, as to have acquired the name of Raven-trees. In like 

 manner, a wild and unfrequented locality in the Belfast mountains, 

 is believed to bear the name of the Crow Glen, from a pair of ravens 

 having for a series of years built in a cliff there. Persecution has 

 long since driven them from the spot, but the name is still re- 

 tained. Their place was for some years supplied by a pair of 

 kestrels (Falco Tinnunculus) , but as their nest could, though with 

 some difficulty, be reached, it was always robbed of its young 

 tenants, and this species, too, has ceased to nidify there. 



Ravens are generally so very wary and distrustful of man, that 

 the following note, communicated to me, may be worth insertion. 

 "In the middle of March, 1828, a pair of ravens had a nest in 

 Grogan's glen, in the Black mountain, Belfast. It was near the 

 top of the highest rock, was formed of sticks and lined with wool, 

 and contained seven eggs of a dark green colour, blotched over 

 with black. The birds were very tame, approaching within three or 

 four yards, and so long as I remained, hopping about near me, 



