80 THE RAVEN. 



more intense by long years of happiness in each other's society. In this 

 manner they may recall the pleasing remembrance of their youthful days, 

 recount the events of their life, and express the pleasure they enjoy. 



Now, their matins are over; the happy pair are seen to glide towards the 

 earth in spiral lines; they alight on the boldest summit of a rock, so high 

 that you can scarcely judge of their actual size; they approach each other, 

 their bills meet, and caresses are exchanged as tender as those of the gentle 

 Turtle Dove. Far beneath, wave after wave dashes in foam against the 

 impregnable sides of the rocky tower, the very aspect of which would be 

 terrific to almost any other creatures than the sable pair, which for years have 

 resorted to it, to rear the dearly-cherished fruits of their connubial love. 

 Midway between them and the boiling waters, some shelving ledge conceals 

 their eyry. To it they now betake themselves, to see what damage it has 

 sustained from the peltings of the winter tempests. Off they fly to the 

 distant woods for fresh materials with which to repair the breach; or on the 

 plain they collect the hair and fur of quadrupeds; or from the sandy beach 

 pick up the weeds that have been washed there. By degrees, the nest is 

 enlarged and trimmed, and when every thing has been rendered clean and 

 comfortable, the female deposits her eggs, and begins to sit upon them, while 

 her brave and affectionate mate protects and feeds her, and at intervals takes 

 her place. 



All around is now silent, save the hoarse murmur of the waves, or the 

 whistling sounds produced by the flight of the waterfowl travelling towards 

 the northern regions. At length the young burst the shell, when the careful 

 parents, after congratulating each other on the happy event, disgorge some 

 half-macerated food, which they deposit in their tender mouths. Should the 

 most daring adventurer of the air approach, he is attacked with fury and 

 repelled. As the young grow up, they are urged to be careful and silent: — 

 a single false movement might precipitate them into the abyss below; a 

 single cry during the absence of their parents might bring upon them the 

 remorseless claws of the swift Peregrine or Jerfalcon. The old birds them- 

 selves seem to improve in care, diligence, and activity, var}nng their course 

 when returning to their home, and often entering it when unexpected. The 

 young are now seen to stand on the edge of the nest; they flap their wings, 

 and at length take courage and fly to some more commodious and not distant 

 lodgment. Gradually they become able to follow their parents abroad, and 

 at length search for maintenance in their company, and that of others, until 

 the period of breeding arrives, when they separate in pairs, and disperse. 



Notwithstanding all the care of the Raven, his nest is invaded wherever it 

 is found. His usefulness is forgotten, his faults are remembered and multi- 

 plied by imagination; and whenever he presents himself he is shot at, because 



