THE RAVEN AT HOME. 323 



minutes after we left him one of the old birds flew into the 

 alcove and watched the young for a few minutes, but did not go 

 to the nest. At nightfall three young men with a little white 

 dog appeared, and, standing by the tent, had discussed how to 

 get at the birds, but when about to put their plans into execution 

 had been much startled by Selous entering into conversation 

 with them. They silently glided away. He said the old roosted 

 away from the nest, and did not come on to it all the morning, 

 although the young were pitifully crying for food. They went 

 down to the shepherds, and, procuring some hard boiled eggs, 

 gave the young one each. Owing to the scared condition of 

 the birds it was decided to keep away from the nest, and watch 

 over their safety from a distance. Selous, watching from the 

 opposite side of the valley, . saw the old feed the young by 

 regurgitation. I cannot help thinking that their scared con- 

 dition is in part due to Selous relying too much on the diurnal 

 habits of the bird, and that coming out of the tent and burning 

 an acetylene lamp inside may have had something to do with it. 



In the evening we had an animatedjdiscussion about the raid. 

 As usual, the landowner's and shooting tenant's interests are in 

 opposition. Earl was very much against a complaint being 

 made, as it would arouse the gamekeeper's enmity, but Selous 

 and I held that, as the landowner was anxious that the birds 

 should be protected, and as our permission came from him, it 

 was clearly our duty to warn his agent, as we had nothing to do 

 with the shooting tenant. So I wrote, and after that the fat 

 was in the fire. The police easily traced the men owing to their 

 little white dog. They were miners intent on getting ten 

 shillings each for the young birds. The gamekeeper was very 

 angry, but we afterwards placated him by photographing him- 

 self, his dogs, and his tame Eaven. 



10th. — Selous started after breakfast to watch the nest from 

 opposite side of valley. Earl and I followed later, as the sun did 

 not reach nest until midday. Owing to scared condition of the 

 birds we did not think it wise to start operations near nest, but to 

 take a few photographs from the tent. Earl left me at 1.55 p.m. 

 At 2.10 p.m., after a gentle croaking in the air, I saw the shadow 

 of the old bird pass across the sunlit cliff. Immediately the 

 two young birds stood up, shouting and showing their crimson 



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