The Raven 



That Ravens display great sagacity in their quest of food is well 

 known. Once in the Cholame country I lugged my photographic appar- 

 atus for a mile under a grilling sun to photograph a Killdeer's nest with 

 four eggs, which I had located on the previous day. Only a little spilled 

 yolk and empty shells remained. Then I recalled having seen, on the 

 occasion of my former visit, a pair of Ravens circling high overhead, at 

 least a quarter of a mile away. The birds could not possibly have seen 

 the Killdeer's eggs at that range; but they heard the distress cries of 

 the Killdeer, and they knew that there was something doing in their line. 

 And at that, the crafty Ravens had retired until the coast should be 

 entirely clear. "We never forget," is the motto of Pinkerton Raven. 

 Many observers testify that Ravens will take unopened clams to a con- 

 siderable height and let them fall upon the rocks in order to smash them 

 open. Beebe 1 tells of a Raven in South Africa which, upon discovering 

 an exposed ostrich nest, will hurry off for a stone, and returning, will 

 drop it accurately from such a height that a feast of ostrich egg souffle is 

 immediately assured. 



As Bendire testifies, 2 "Ravens are stately and rather sedate-looking 

 birds. On the ground their movements are de- 



liberate and dignified ; their walk is graceful and seldom varied by hurried 

 hops or jumps. They appear to still better advantage on the wing, 

 especially in winter and early spring, when pairs may frequently be seen 

 playing with each other, performing extraordinary feats in the air, such 

 as somersaults, trying to fly on their backs, etc. At this season they 

 seem to enjoy life most and to give vent to their usually not very ex- 

 uberant spirits by a series of low chuckling and gurgling notes, evidently 

 indifferent efforts at singing." In my experience these springtime 

 excesses are oftenest displayed in company. As is well known, the 

 Raven remains mated for life. The companionship of his mate is quite 

 sufficient for him, and the Raven usually shuns the society of his fellows. 

 But in early springtime it is different. The social instinct overcomes both 

 sexes alike. Besides that, vows must be redeclared, even though accep- 

 tance be assured. And how could the dutiful wife know that her hubby 

 was keeping up with the procession unless he proved himself out in the 

 lists annually, doing stunts with the other fellows? Anyhow, the court 

 of Venus is set up every year in the neighborhood of some beetling sea- 

 cliff, or before some huge monument of sandstone in the cattle country. 

 One who has been privileged to see a Raven circus in session feels as 

 though he had caught the Olympians at a backyard frolic. Dignity is 

 thrown to the winds, and sable seigneurs don cap and bells, while prim 



'"The Bird" by William Beebe; p. 158. 

 ! "Life Histories of N. A. Birds," ad. loc. 



