158 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS 
In England, probably owing to the systematic persecution to which it has 
been subjected, the Raven is becoming very rare, though a few pairs still breed 
regularly in the rocky headlands of our southern and south western coasts. 
Howard Saunders observes that nests built in trees, although far rarer than 
formerly, are less uncommon than might be supposed at short distances inland. 
Not long ago several pairs bred in Essex. To this I can add that in the winter 
of 1885-6 a pair of Ravens used daily to pass over my garden at Penge (where I 
then lived) and on mentioning the fact to a friend in the train he told me he 
knew of a pair which had a nest in the spring of 1885 not far from Beckenham, 
but he intended to keep its situation to himself lest I should be tempted to try 
and secure the eggs. 
In Scotland, and particularly the Outer Hebrides and other Western Isles 
northwards to the Shetlands, it is still common; whilst it is found in the wilder 
regions of Ireland. 
The Raven is glossy black, with iridescent purple and Prussian blue tints on 
the upper parts and throat; bill and feet black, iris brown. The female is 
smaller, and less distinctly shot with purple and blue. The young resemble the 
female, but lack the metallic gloss of adult birds. 
The bird of Odin is widely regarded with superstitious awe; its sable 
colouring, gruff croaking notes, and its delight in carrion, however foul and 
putrid, have doubtless conspired to stamp it as a bird of evil omen; yet, to watch 
a pair of Ravens at play, gives one no feeling of horror or disgust; for their 
foolish antics and absurd lateral jumps are irresistibly laughable. 
Lord Lilford (‘Birds of Northamptonshire,’ vol. I, pp. 212-213) observes :— 
“We have had many opportunities of closely observing the habits of this 
eminently sagacious bird in various parts of the world, and, in spite of his 
tendencies to murder, assault, and robbery, we must confess to a great liking for 
him. The Raven is in this county a very early breeder, generally selecting a 
secure ledge in a cliff, more rarely a tall tree, and returning to the same locality 
for nesting year after year. The young birds often leave the nest during the 
first fortnight of March, sometimes before that date. We have more than once 
heard of a full complement of eggs early in February, and, on the other hand, 
found unfledged young in more than one Raven’s nest as late as the middle of 
May. The old birds are always wary, one always keeping a close look-out whilst 
the other is on the nest, and immediately uttering a warning note on the 
approach of danger. We have heard of Ravens vigorously attacking persons 
attempting to harm their nests, but have never witnessed anything of the sort, 
our experience being to the effect that, during the siege, the parent birds usually 
