BIRDS. 



155 



sistently hunts for voles and field-mice in their shallow runs, and goes 

 about it in the most wise and systematic manner. It reminds one 

 of the cautious advances made by the Song-Thrush when in earnest 

 quest for the " early worm," so : — walking softly, hopping gently, 

 listening, head on one side, standing rigid ; then another cautious 

 advance, and finally a plunge of his still bristly beak and the 

 successful impaling of a field-mouse: "quite as luscious," he says to 

 himself, "as a dirty wire-worm." Alas! the "flesh-pots" have led 

 him far astray. 



Corvus corax, L. Raven. 



Old Gaelic name, Fitheach (old Statistical Account, vol. xvii. p. 248). 



Old Statistical Account localities as usual, viz. Weem, Monzie, 

 Dowally. 



Resident or partly migratory. Common, especially in the upper 

 districts. Breeds. 



Appears to visit Rannoch side rarely between April 7th and 25th, 

 but, Mr. Godfrey says, becomes common after that time, and seems 

 to descend from higher grounds to the lower reaches of country. 

 They come down the river Ericht, and are probably composed of 

 both old and young, leaving their more alpine haunts where they 

 nested. 



The keepers at Marble Lodge in Glen Tilt assured the late Rev. 

 H. A. Macpherson that the numbers of Ravens which are known to 

 nest in the forest receive large additions to their numbers in winter 

 (MS. of Rev. H. A. Macpherson). 



Mr. D. Dewar has often taken home as many as seven Ravens in 

 one day, all old birds, trapped on his Remony beat, but he is of 

 opinion that they are not nearly so abundant as they used to be 

 (see vermin lists, ante). He adds that in his experience it is 

 only where sticks are not available that they build their nests with 

 heather. 



The Raven breeds in the north of Forfar, and visits the lower 

 grounds only at rare intervals in the east of the county. 



Between 1895 and 1897 Ravens bred in the glen not far from the 

 Glenalmond Academy, as I am informed by Mr. Xorman B. Kinnear 

 {in. lit., 2nd September 1904). 



In Fife, says Mr. George Bruce, Ravens bred recently {i.e. prior 

 to 1895) in Ravenscraig, at the west end of the Lomonds; also at 

 Craigangow on the east Lomond ; and in Ravenscraig Castle, near 

 Kirkcaldy (Forth). 



