6 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



during the last sixty years, saying also something of the 

 ways of some of the birds. During that time some of 

 the birds that were fairlj^ numerous in the earlier years 

 of the period named are now very scarce, the goldfinch 

 having, for instance, disappeared, or all but disappeared. 

 On the other hand, some of the bird classes that 

 were thinly populated sixty years ago, are now in 

 several cases numerously represented, the starling being 

 excessively so. 



The Raven. — I may begin with the raven. In Hen- 

 hole, on the Cheviots, long ago, two pairs of ravens 

 regularly nested, but for a number of years only one 

 pair have nested there. The only other place I know 

 of on the Scotch side of the Borders where ravens still 

 breed, is a high cliff in Dumfriesshire. It would indeed 

 be matter of regret to us all were these beautiful and 

 noble birds driven from their Border haunts. They are 

 most sagacious birds ; they are easily tamed, and can be 

 trained to speak a few words, and to cleverly imitate 

 a trumpet call. I have heard a Border raven do all 

 this with accuracy, and this it did apparently with an 

 exultant relish. But though the raven readily displays 

 this light side of his nature, he is in reality a solemn, 

 though both a brave and bold bird, and no home bird 

 can match him in dignity of mien. In fight, his only 

 masters in this country are of the eagle tribe. I saw 

 in Kelso, two years ago, a young raven of almost full 

 growth put into an aviary beside two fine peregrine 

 falcons. I wondered what the result would be, and 

 immediately saw it. The hawks were sitting on the 

 highest perch, and they silently stared, their wild 

 expressive eyes glittering, when they beheld the raven 

 placed on the floor of the aviary ; but they no sooner 

 saw him begin (which he did at once) to hop upward, 

 perch after perch, than they screamed and keelie-keelied 

 at a great rate. When he reached their side, with a 



