COMMON RAVEN. 95 
COMMON RAVEN. 
Corvus corax, Linn. 
Pl. XV., figs. 1, 2. 
Geogr. distr.—Throughout the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, 
most numerous in the northern portions; also in Great Britain it is 
fairly common, though much less so than formerly. 
Food.—Grain, berries, fruit, insects, reptiles, eggs, young poultry 
and game, rats, moles, and carrion. 
Nest.—A bulky structure of rough sticks, lined with roots, wool, 
hair, and other soft substances. 
Position of nest.—In forks of the larger branches of tall trees, in 
trees overhanging precipices, or in old ruins or inaccessible fissures in 
rocks. 
Number of eggs.—4-6; frequently 5. 
Time of nidification.—I1-III ; March. 
The ery of this bird, when on the wing, is so much like 
that of a Drake, excepting for the want of repetition,* that 
a short time since 1 was completely deceived by it. The 
sounds uttered by the Corvide are, indeed, all different, 
and not one of them is at all like ‘‘ cue,” any more than 
the ‘‘quarck” of the Anatide is like ‘ quach;” indeed the 
true sound is ‘ Whark-whark-whark-whark-whark,” and 
therefore the q is nothing more than the terminal & of a 
preceding utterance. 
Seebohm says that ‘‘one of the best places in the 
British Islands to study the Raven’s habits is the Western 
Isles of Scotland.” ‘‘It is omnivorous, and will take 
almost everything in its power. Like the Hawks, it 
catches small birds and quadrupeds, kills a weakly lamb 
or fawn, and carries off the eggs of poultry and game 
should it happen to discover them; and it will never 
refuse to make a meal on carrion of any kind. Most 
animal substances are eaten—every creature which the sea 
casts up on the beach, from a dead whale to a mollusk ; 
and it may sometimes be seen searching the pastures for 
moles, worms, and even insects. In autumn the Raven 
will also feed largely on grain.” —(Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. i. 
pp. 588 and 535). . 
Owing to its tendency to attack weakly lambs, this bird 
is detested by shepherds as much as it is by farmers and 
rearers of poultry. 
*It has been described by the words “ pruk, pruk;” but the note 
sounds to me more like ‘“ whurk;” Seebohm gives it as “‘ cruck.” 
