230 BIRD-HUNTING 



wing-tip to wing-tip 288 cm., while a Sea Eagle 

 (Haliiietus albicilla), measured 210 cm. across the 

 wings.) 



It is often said that the first bird to arrive at a 

 carcase is the Raven. Here the first arrival was 

 invariably a Magpie. First of all the cry of a Magpie 

 would be heard in the neighbouring bushes, and then 

 with wavering flight Mag would flit across and alight 

 on the carcase, soon to be followed by others until 

 quite a number would be collected together. Then 

 the Hooded Crows would begin to arrive. Presently 

 the deep guttural croak of a Raven from the summit 

 of some tree near at hand would tell me that one of 

 these birds had made its appearance, and after it had 

 satisfied itself that all was safe it would fly down and 

 advance with long hops to the feast. Sometimes I 

 had from six to a dozen of these birds in front of me 

 at a time, and could often hear them on the tree- 

 trunk within a few inches of my head. At times 

 they made a curious bubbling kind of note, which 

 might almost be called a song, accompanied with 

 much puffing of the throat and long throat-feathers. 



One day at the end of March I had another 

 interesting experience in this same tree. After 

 photographing several Magpies, Hoodies, and 

 Ravens, two Kites (Milvus regalis) appeared 

 together, and remained some little time, giving me 

 several chances. Then an Egyptian Vulture came 



