82 THE RAVEN. 



beginning of January to that of June. I have found young Ravens on the 

 banks of the Lehigh and the Susquehanna rivers on the 1st of May; about 

 ten days later on those of the majestic Hudson; in the beginning of June on 

 the island of Grand Manan off the Bay of Fundy; and at Labrador, as late as 

 the middle of July. The nest is always placed in the most inaccessible parts 

 of rocks that can be found, never, I believe, on trees, at least in America. 

 It is composed of sticks, coarse weeds, wool, and bunches of hair of different 

 animals. The eggs are from four to six, of a rather elongated oval shape, 

 fully two inches in length, having a ground colour of light greenish-blue, 

 sprinkled all over with small irregular blotches of light purple and yellowish- 

 brown, so numerous on the larger end, as almost entirely to cover it. The 

 period of incubation extends to nineteen or twenty days. Only one brood 

 is raised in a year, unless the eggs or young be removed or destroyed. The 

 young remain in the nest many weeks before they are able to fly. The old 

 birds return to the same nest for years in succession; and should one of them 

 be destroyed, the other will lead a new partner to the same abode. Even 

 after the young have made their appearance, should one of the parents be 

 killed, the survivor usually manages to find a mate, who undertakes the task 

 of assisting in feeding them. 



The Raven may be said to be of a social disposition, for, after the breed- 

 ing season, flocks of forty, fifty, or more, may sometimes be seen, as I 

 observed on the coast of Labrador, and on the Missouri. When domesti- 

 cated, and treated with kindness, it becomes attached to its owner, and will 

 follow him about with all the familiarity of a confiding friend. It is capable 

 of imitating the human voice, so that individuals have sometimes been 

 taught to enunciate a few words with great distinctness. 



On the ground the Raven walks in a stately manner, its motions exhibiting 

 a kind of thoughtful consideration, almost amounting to gravity. While 

 walking it frequently moves up its wings as if to keep their muscles in 

 action. I never knew an instance of their roosting in the woods, although 

 they frequently alight on trees, to which they sometimes resort for the 

 purpose of procuring nuts and other fruits. They usually betake themselves 

 at night to high rocks, in situations protected from the northerly winds. 

 Possessing to all appearance the faculty of judging of the coming weather, 

 they remove from the higher, wild and dreary districts where they breed, 

 into the low lands, at the approach of winter, when they are frequently seen 

 along the shores of the sea, collecting the garbage that has been cast to land, 

 or picking up the shell-fish as the tide retires. They are vigilant, industrious, 

 and, when the safety of their young or nest is at stake, courageous, driving 

 away Hawks and Eagles whenever they happen to come near, although in 

 no case do they venture to attack man. Indeed, it is extremely difficult to 



