THE RAVEN AT HOME. 329 



attack. She then alighted on top of cliff and scolded him. He 

 kept within range of nest to prevent her feeding them. As the 

 sun was obscured and not likely to clear we went home. 



22nd. — Spent most of morning trying to photograph "Eaaf" 

 and the dogs. Keeper says that our birds are old male and last 

 year's female. The original female was trapped last year. He 

 also mentioned that when the old birds drive the young away in 

 January, they pursue them for miles, and the outcry is con- 

 siderable. Made friends with " Eaff " by means of raisins and 

 sweets. Seemed to pouch everything, and then hide it. Joined 

 Earl at nest at 12. Earl left me at 12.20. Old bird in alcove 

 at 12.30. Got as far as chasm and burnt patch, but not on to 

 nest. Earl came at 1 p.m., the idea being to interrupt feeding 

 if it took place, and enable me to change plates, as if once fed 

 there is not much chance during rest of day. He noticed that 

 the larger youngster had climbed on to top of heather, and 

 against my advice tried to get it down into nest. He climbed up 

 to dislodge it, when the smaller bird sailed off the nest down the 

 hill, turning summersault and squawking at end. Earl went 

 after it, and there was a great hubbub. Both old birds flew to 

 its rescue, the mother flying round Earl a few yards from his 

 head, but the male well in the background. By the time he got 

 the youngster into nest the other had climbed down. Earl left 

 me at 2 p.m. ; immediately afterwards the female appeared on 

 top of cliff, croaking loudly, but, although she spent some time 

 at chasm, I was not surprised that she did not visit nest. Gave 

 up at 4.30, as light was bad. 



23rd. — Kained in morning, cleared up midday. Earl left 

 me in tent at 2 p.m. At 2.10 young began to cry. Female 

 made three or four false starts from alcove to chasm and burnt 

 patch, but finally went on to nest about 2.13, and then flew off 

 without feeding. Then between 2.15 and 2.30 fed young seven 

 times. Took her in what ought to be good position. On Earl's 

 return at 2.30 found shutter had not gone off; leak in tube. 

 As probably they would not be fed for some time, took some 

 photographs of young. Then, as hght was good and young 

 seemed to be getting hungry. Earl left me at 4.45 p.m. Old 

 bird back on chasm nest in a few minutes, and then fed young 

 five times in twenty minutes, after which she cleared off alto- 



