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the present species. He writes (J. f. O. 1870, p. 48) as follows: — "In Loche's catalogue both 

 C. corax and C. corone are included ; but I saw neither of these two birds, though in the heights 

 between Ghelma and Constantine, round Batna and Elkantara, at Biskra, and almost everewhere 

 in the hill-country, I found a species which in size is intermediate between these, has a Raven's 

 bill, but rather shorter, and has a very rounded tail ; the feathers on the neck are bifurcate, and 

 the bristly feathers covering the nostrils are as in C. corax, thus distinguishing it from C affinis, 

 Riipp. Though resembling our Raven somewhat in habits, yet it differs in many material points, 

 being much more gregarious, and may be seen in large flocks in the fields near the towns and on 

 the roads. Every pair, however, like Ravens, keep together in the flock, and fly off in company. 

 Though they had not commenced breeding yet, I was shown several nests near Batna, on a 

 hillock close to the valley, placed in small fir trees not higher than about 10 metres, and I 

 counted twenty nests within a short distance. I did not observe them at their nests late in 

 March, and was assured that they do not have eggs before May. They are not so wary and 

 cautious as our Raven, and at Batna there are always numbers at the slaughter-houses. Once 

 when hidden, watching for a Gypaetos, my attention was attracted by an unusual movement 

 amongst the Ravens on a neighbouring height, where they were flying to and fro, every now and 

 again stooping towards one place on the ground. Expecting to find carrion and a Vulture, or 

 perhaps a Bearded Vulture, I went with my guide thither, and found on arrival that the Ravens 

 were catching grasshoppers, which they seized on the wing or picked up from the ground 

 in their claws and devoured them whilst flying. Amongst them were a few Choughs, which 

 were taking part in the chase of the grasshoppers." Canon Tristram met with it in Algeria ; 

 he says (Ibis, 1S59, p. 291) it is " plentiful in the Dayats, where it resides in communities, 

 returning home to roost at sunset in a long file after the manner of Rooks. It seems strange 

 that the Raven, so solitary here, and which chases away its own progeny from its neighbourhood 

 (unless it be grievously belied), should be so gregarious both in the mountains and deserts of 

 Africa. Though not breeding in communities, the nests are frequently within a few yards of 

 each other. It wages an incessant and noisy warfare with the Eagles and Kites, who share the 

 Terebinths of the Dayats with it, and are seldom the aggressors in these skirmishes. The Raven 

 begins in the Desert to repair his nest in December." Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., also says (Ibis. 

 1871, p. 294) that he found it breeding in society at Tilremt. 



It inhabits the Canaries, where, Mr. Godman says, it is common ; and it is occasionally met 

 with in Madeira. Dr. C. Bolle writes (J. f. O. 1857, p. 275) that it is commoner in Canaria 

 than at Teneriffe, but single pairs inhabit the elevated canadas on the Peak of Teneriffe, and 

 the Pinal near Chasna. This species, I may add, is the bird referred to by the various authors 

 on the ornithology of Madeira and the Canaries under the name of Corvus corax. 



Respecting the habits of this Raven I do not possess any details beyond what are given by 

 Canon Tristram, Colonel Irby, and Mr. Taczanowski. Colonel Irby says that its note or croak 

 is quite different from that of C. corax, and that this difference, though difficult to describe, is 

 easily noticed when heard, the note not being so hoarse. He further remarks on its gregarious 

 habits, and states that as many as a hundred are sometimes seen on the wing at once. As 

 regards this latter, however, I may remark that flocks of the common Raven are also sometimes 

 seen. I well recollect once observing a large flock of Corvus corax in Finland, numbering, I 



