Practical Game-Preserving. 370 



width across the wings, when full grown, is about 3ft. Its 

 flight is remarkably elegant for a bird so ungainly on the 

 ground, and is, moreover, exceedingly powerful, alter- 

 nating between rapid directness and a short hovering 

 motion, either produced seemingly without the slightest 

 exertion. 



Ravens live for the most part in pairs, the same two 

 mating off in successive years, and remaining in company 

 at all times, except, of course, during the nesting-season, 

 when a close companionship is impossible; but as soon as 

 the young are large enough to fly, the two old ones join 

 them until the progeny throw off the parental yoke, when 

 they again return to the enjoyment of their former solitary 

 life. The nest, or eyrie, is usually formed in the inter- 

 stices of some rocky crag, offering sufficient space, to- 

 gether with security from human beings, or placed upon 

 the topmost branches of some high tree, beyond the reach 

 of harm. It is invariably large, as, besides being from 

 2ft. to 3ft. wide, it is added to year after year until 

 sometimes quite a monstrosity is the result ; sticks, lined 

 with fibre, roots, hair, and wool form the materials. 

 The young ravens are the object of considerable solicitude 

 on the part of their parents, who are ever bent on pro- 

 viding them with a sufficiency of food ; and, besides being 

 voracious, the nestlings often endeavour to fly before they 

 have their feathers. Falling from the nest, and, being 

 unable to return, many a young raven has to take its chance 

 on the ground till its feathers grow, often being captured, 

 and sometimes losing its life. 



The food of the raven is, for the greater part, of an 

 animal nature, and its voracity is seldom equalled among 

 birds, for, in addition to every living thing which comes 

 in its way, it will include fruit, corn, &c., in its varied 

 dietary. Nor does it fear to attack animals larger than 



