THE RAVEN. 



Corvus corax, Linnaeus. 

 {Frontispiece.) 



The Raven still lingers as a breeding species in some of its ancient haunts 

 along the southern and south-western coasts of England, nesting also in Cumber- 

 land and Wales, as well as in some of the wilder parts of Ireland. 



In Scotland it is much more numerous, especially in the western islands and 

 among the wilds of the Highland deer forests. 



This wanderer over the face of the earth is found all over Europe, and has a 

 wide range in Asia and America, it also inhabits Greenland. 



The nest, begun in February, is usually placed on an inaccessible ledge of rock, 

 although in former days, when the Raven bred in the wooded districts of England, 

 it was generally built in some tall tree, and so situated that it could hardly be 

 reached from below. 



It is composed of dead sticks of various sizes, with a warm lining of wool, 

 feathers, fur, or the hair of deer. The eggs, varying in number from three to 

 six, on rare occasions seven, are bluish-green in ground colour, marked and 

 blotched with greenish-brown and grey. 



The Raven's voice is distinct and may be recognised at a great distance, the 

 harsh double croak being often heard when the bird itself seems a mere speck 

 against the sky. 



Its food consists of carrion of all kinds, such as sheep and lambs which have 

 died on the hill or fallen over a precipice, dead fishes cast ashore by the sea, and 

 also sometimes of grain, nothing coming amiss to this omnivorous bird. 



In character and intelligence the Raven stands first among his kind, and 

 endowed with wonderfully keen eyesight and a hardy constitution, he is able to find 

 a living where most birds would starve. 



The male and female are alike in colour, and pair for life. 



END OF VOL. I. 



