THE RAVEN 169 



sharp-beaked kite, the prowling cat, the barking dog — 

 they will face any of them ; even man himself has cause 

 to fear the wounds which that strong wedge-shaped beak 

 can inflict. 



Occasionally they will take the ofi^ensive and bluff' even 

 a large dog. A case in point is related by a correspondent 

 of the Field newspaper in February, 1907. 



He tells how he watched a pair of Ravens, one winter's 

 day, in the previous year, hovering over a hillside, where 

 two collies were chasing a rabbit. " The dogs were yelp- 

 ing freely, and by and by drove the rabbit out near the 

 top of the hill, when in making for its hole it was so 

 unfortunate as to run into a trap. 



" The rabbit's squeals quickly attracted the attention 

 of one collie. He was hastening up to it, when the 

 Ravens lurched down from above with such threatening 

 croaks as fairly made the dog turn tail, and both he and 

 his companion set off homewards. 



" Meanwhile, the Ravens alighted beside the rabbit, and 

 one of them quickly killed it with a blow on the head. 

 The frantic struggles of the poor animal in the trap had 

 not disconcerted the birds in the least. Nor was any 

 jealousy displayed between them as to who should have 

 the titbits. In a surprisingly short space of time, all that 

 remained of the rabbit were the bones and a few scattered 

 pieces of the furry skin. Then the Ravens, after wiping 

 their beaks upon the grass, again soared aloft, still quite 

 unaware of the silent watcher sitting among the trees a 

 little way off on the opposite hillside.'' 



Speaking of the boldness of the Raven, one writer 

 remarks : " It is said that he will never attack a man. If 

 this be true, it is, I think, not so much from any want of 

 courage, as from his perceiving what will pay and what 



