THE RAVEN AT HOME. 331 



26th. — Cloudy. Sun came out at 11.30. Earl left me at 



12.30. Beyond coming occasionally to assure herself that young 



were all right, the female did nothing all the afternoon. As it 



was clouding over I gave up at 4 p.m., but as there seemed 



prospect of more sun, I returned and got into tent. Shepherd 



on his afternoon round joined us, and had a look at young. 



Found one off nest. Earl put it back, and against my advice 



tried to get the other to come down off the heather at back. He 



and shepherd left me at 4.30. Both old continued to fly round, 



making great clamour, and female paid several hurried visits to 



chasm nest, peering down and flying off again. Earl returned 



at 5.30 to say that in trying to shift bird it flew out unperceived 



by me, was caught by wind, and blown up on to top of cliff. He 



says shepherd thinks that if we want any more photos we had 



better clip the young. He left it at top of cliff and walked with 



shepherd, to let things quieten down a little. On his return he 



tried to catch the young bird, but it soared out and flew down 



the valley, with one old bird on either side of it. So he came 



down and told me. We then sat down at a little distance, and 



watched the old birds. They visited a spot on a precipitous 



scree about a quarter of a mile down the valley, and at last, 



through the glasses, we thought we saw the young bird. So we 



went down to the spot and searched high and low, but could not 



find it. We then returned and took three inches off one wing of 



bird in nest, and then resumed our watch. Finally we came to 



the conclusion, from frequent visits of old birds, that youngster 



must be in a patch of heather on side of fell. Had nearly 



given up search when looking up I saw it in a small birch tree. 



Earl tried to get it, whilst I went to a point giving good outlook. 



Earl failed to get it, and it soared right across valley, and began 



to hop and walk up the fell. I stayed same side whilst Earl 



went after it. After a long time Earl headed it off, when it 



flew again to my side. Guided by signs from Earl, I got to it, 



and managed to throw my coat over it. Clipped one of its 



wings and put it back into nest. On way home saw male 



hunting round for youngster near where we caught it. Looked 



in at shepherd's. He was very surprised to hear we had caught 



young. Said some years ago the Duke gave a farmer permission 



to take a young bird. He turned up early one morning on 



