129 



THE RAVEN IN BOWLAND. 



F. S. MITCHELL, M.B.O.U., 

 Clitheroe', Author of ' The Birds of Lancashire? 



On the hills of Bowland, across which runs the boundary of Lanca- 

 shire and Yorkshire, and east and west from which flow the Hodder, 

 the Wyre, and some of the tributaries of the Lune, the Raven (Corvus 

 corax) has often been seen, and but for the scurvy reception it has 

 met with, would no doubt have remained a regular inhabitant. 



In 1885, however, a pair contrived to keep their whereabouts a 

 secret until they had almost brought their young to maturity, and it 

 was only in the second week of April that the nest was discovered 

 and poked down, two of the contained birds being killed and the 

 remaining two haled off into captivity. 



Hearing not long ago that the birds had been again seen about 

 the place, a visit was paid on the 7th of March, and in exactly the 

 same spot as last year a big nest had been constructed, the situation 

 being a recess protected by an overhanging rock and about 20 feet 

 from the foot of the crag. A good deal of snow was on the ground 

 and footing thereby treacherous, but by the aid of a rope and a small 

 mountain-ash which happily grew in a crevice near, it was ascertained 

 that only one egg had been laid, and this was completely covered up by 

 the thick sheeps-wool of the lining. The birds were exceedingly wary, 

 and could only be seen hovering at a great height, and heard to give 

 an occasional croak. 



A second visit was paid on March 14th, and on approaching the 

 sitting bird was seen to leave the nest, being immediately joined by 

 her mate, who had evidently been perching near. By mounting on 

 each other's shoulders the climbers obtained a view of the inside of 

 the nest before disturbance, and the four eggs it contained were seen 

 to be lying with no sort of symmetry, and all at some little distance 

 from each other. The nest was about two feet thick, and had an 

 inside diameter of ten inches. 



The birds showed rather more anxiety than on the previous 

 occasion, and came once near enough to have been shot, but as it is 

 beginning to be believed that they do not do much damage to the 

 game, and that a dead sheep is far more agreeable to them than any 

 amount of grouse, it may be hoped they will be allowed to remain 

 unmolested. 



May 1886. K 



