RAVEN. 



CORVUS COR AX, Linn. 



Corvus corax, Linn. S. N. i. p. 155 (1766) ; Naum. ii. p. 43; 

 Macg. i. p. 498; Hewitson, i, p. 220; Yarr. ed. 4, ii. 

 p. 259 ; Dresser, iv. p. 567. 



Corbeau, French ; Kolk-Rabe, German ; Cuervo, Grajo, 

 Spanish. 



This most sagacious of birds, though formerly well 

 known in almost all parts of the three kingdoms, is now 

 uncommon in cultivated and game-preserving districts, 

 and its breeding-places in England, except on our coasts, 

 are few and far between. Entertaining, as I do, a great 

 admiration for the Raven, and fully aware of his value 

 as a most efficient destroyer of small four-footed vermin, 

 I fear that it is impossible to deny that he is a formid- 

 able enemy to the shepherd, the poultry-keeper, and 

 game-preserver ; but, admitting his natural delinquencies 

 to the fullest extent, I must yet plead for mercy for him 

 on account of his beauty, courage, marvellous intelli- 

 gence, and comparative scarcity at the present time in 

 our country. 



The Raven is an early breeder. I have seen well- 

 feathered young birds offered for sale in London in the 

 latter end of March. This bird rears its young year 

 after year in the same spot, generally in a hole or crevice 

 in the face of a cliff, but also often in a tall and 

 " difficult " tree. The old birds will drive off almost 

 any bird from the neighbourhood of their nest, and their 

 great wing-power and strength render them most for- 

 midable antagonists, even to the Falcon. No birds are 

 more easily tamed than Ravens, and certainly none more 

 amply repay in all ways the small amount of care and 

 attention that they require. 



