1908-1909.] " The Raven Wysr 163 



the Ptarmigan ground, of its summit, and into the azure sky 

 beyond ; down across the sunlit hill-slopes we had traversed 

 that morning, following the wooded line of the burn to the 

 blue loch that filled the strath beneath and lay deeply shadowed 

 by the tumultuous hill-ridge which closed in the western view. 

 To a man who had set his heart upon something less than 

 young Eavens it might have been an eminently pleasing pros- 

 pect — recompense in overflowing measure for all the toils of 

 the hill-ascent — such a prospect as one is wont to have from 

 a Eaven's nesting-cliff, for the Eaven above all things would 

 seem to love a fine outlook, miles and miles of hill and valley, 

 doubtless his entire domain, and perhaps a little of his neigh- 

 bour's. In a semi-conscious kind of way we knew it was a 

 fine view, knew that the Eavens had chosen worthily, but we 

 were in no mood to enjoy it. Our objective nest was empty, 

 and the barking of our gambolling friends still served to 

 remind us that we must be up and doing elsewhere if we 

 would see young Eavens that day. This pair had been per- 

 mitted to rear none, and C. got to his feet and pronounced a 

 curse that would have done credit to the Archbishop of 

 Eheims upon every keeper, shepherd, and ornithologist who 

 had ever harmed a single plume of a Eaven's plumage. Then, 

 slightly relieved in mind, we departed, and terminated this 

 chapter in our Eaven experience. 



That we were about to enter upon another chapter in 

 which old Eavens would bark angrily and young Eavens 

 would squawk in the nest, could hardly have been foreseen, 

 and certainly has no business to affect the interest of this one, 

 which remains, as far as we are concerned, a memorable effort 

 to improve our acquaintance with " The Eaven Wys." 



