188 COR VICE. 



nest was reached. It was comfortably lined throughout with 

 the fur of the fallow-deer, and contained three young ones, 

 which appeared to have been hatched about a fortnight. 



" About six years have elapsed since a former pair of Ravens 

 built in Petworth Park. The old male was at last shot ; this 

 occurred in the morning, and at three o'clock in the afternoon 

 the survivor had found a help-mate, who continued faithfully 

 to discharge the duties of husband and father, until the de- 

 struction of the young birds at a later period. 



" Some years ago a pair of Ravens used to breed annually in 

 Burton Park, about four miles from Petworth ; disappearing 

 from the neighbourhood when their young were fledged, but 

 always returning in the ensuing spring. 



" The head-keeper, better acquainted, it would appear, with 

 the habits of birds than persons of his profession are apt to be, 

 afforded them every protection. He had discovered that they 

 were his best friends. Not a hawk, or weasel, nor indeed 

 any winged or four-footed animal, usually designated " ver- 

 mine," were suffered by the Ravens to appproach the wood 

 in which stood the tree containing their nest. 



" Although pheasants and hares abounded in the immediate 

 vicinity, neither these nor the young were ever molested by 

 the Ravens. Their foraging expeditions were carried on at a 

 distance, and their food consisted almost entirely of young- 

 rabbits, and the decomposed flesh of larger quadrupeds." 



The Raven, like some of our other birds of prey, appears 

 gradually to be retreating before the rapid march of civiliza- 

 tion, and to be retiring, like the Britains of old, to wooded 

 and mountainous fastnesses, where it can for the present re- 

 main unmolested. Many spots formerly frequented by this 

 species, appear now, within the memory of man, to have be- 

 come deserted. " The primaeval forests, 1 ' says Mr. Hepburn, 

 speaking of East Lothian, " which covered the surface of this 

 country, have long since disappeared, and in this neighbour- 



