334 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



away of the young could not fail to arrest attention, and would 

 only confirm the impression of the old being unnatural parents. 

 I think the annual driving away may explain how if one bird is 

 killed it soon finds a mate. All those birds that have been 

 reared there will probably look upon it as a desirable site, and 

 will join if wanted. As to where the new bird comes from, there 

 is no knowing how many unpaired birds there may be in the 

 neighbourhood, for if a solitary Eaven is seen some miles from 

 the nest, the natural conclusion is that it is one of the breeding 

 pair, but it might not be so. 



As regards nuptial antics, I forgot to mention that a few 

 days after the male's dance before the female I saw her do the 

 same thing when alone. 



Some weeks after leaving I heard from the keeper that our 

 two young flew over nearly every day and joined "Raff" on the 

 fell, making a great noise, which he did not seem to like. 



I should very much like to mention the locality of this nest, 

 as the alcove site could not be beaten as regards opportunities 

 of watching, and the young could by means of a ladder be 

 easily placed there. But so long as ornithology is infested by a 

 number of born stamp-collectors who have missed their voca- 

 tion, and who do ornithology more harm than any other of the 

 bird's enemies, it is not wise to do so. 



I may say for the benefit of those who wish to help in pre- 

 venting the extinction of our rarer birds, that by scribbling all 

 over an egg with a blue marking-ink pencil marks are made which 

 cannot be washed off without obliterating the natural blotches 

 of the egg. I recommend this as a slight measure of protection 

 against those who have not outgrown the childish state in which 

 the desired object to give any pleasure must be grasped, even if 

 the grasping entails destruction. 



I have often wondered why the Raven should breed so early, 

 and cannot help thinking that the hatching of the young in the 

 lambing-time is more than a coincidence. 



After all I have seen and written, I yet think that the best 

 description of the Raven's habits in a few words is, after all : 

 " He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young Ravens 

 which cry. For that their mother's heart is hardened, fearing a 

 snare, she basteth not; she will not be taken." 



