76 
The Irish Naturalist. 
May, 
towards the sitting bird, who turns uneasily and, with crest erect, 
snaps at the intruder. The latter, with ruffled throat feathers, 
croaks defiance and, advancing nearer, compels the frightened 
Cormorant to forsake its treasures. Then the Raven is joined by 
its mate, who has been an interested spectator, and together they 
demolish the spoils. A Raven is wonderfully graceful on the 
wing, and I have seen them playing when they twist and tumble 
in the air like Choughs. 
Frequently the Peregrine breeds in close proximity. Then 
fierce aerial encounters are of common occurrence, but the 
weaker bird often escapes by its cunning and strategy. On 
catching sight of its foe, the Peregrine dives from aloft, but the 
Raven, all alert, tuirns on its back in the nick of time and deftly 
wards off the terrific onslaught by rigidly extending the talons. 
This completely defeats the " stoop," and as the birds pose in 
mid-air one can hear the piercing scream of the baffled Pere- 
grine, together with the harsh, angry croak of the Raven. In a 
flash, however, the Raven has righted itself and labours away on 
noisy pinions, while the Peregrine has shot up into the sky to 
" stoop" again at the black enemy, which then recovers its former 
position instantaneously, sparring dexterously with cruel claws. 
Again the scream and answering croak, and so the fights continue 
until the aggressor, repeatedly foiled, retires disgusted, or the 
Raven, bewildered and exhausted, seeks protection in the cliffs. 
Young Ravens, soon after leaving the nest, are taught how to 
withstand these dreaded attacks. Their parents, in imitation of 
the Peregrine, "stoop" at them time after time. At first the 
youngsters are stupid and clumsy, but they soon learn to avoid 
the onslaughts by turning over and presenting their claws or by 
rising high in the air. Indeed, the old birds are most attentive, 
and take them off daily on long foraging expeditions. Towards 
nightfall they all return, the young following in a straggling line, 
sometimes flying very slowly, as if worn out by their long day. 
As the summer wanes both old and young disappear, but the 
same pair, when they escape mishap, take up residence again the 
following year. 
Rocklow, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. 
