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CORVIDi-15. 
usually about tlie middle of October, remaining until the 
breeding season begins. At such a time I have seen upwards 
of forty within the space of a few acres, busily searching for 
the numerous insects with which the hills then abound. In 
Xovember also, when the yearly slaughter of the cows takes 
place, enormous numbers of Eavens come to feed upon the offal, 
and this occurs throughout the whole islands ; for at that time 
there is scarcely a village or an outlying farm in which the 
work is not being carried on. Sometimes they arrive without 
any apparent reason, but an unusual abundance of carrion is sure 
by some mysterious means to attract them from distant parts. 
A notable instance of this occurred during the third week in 
April 1864, when a number of whales were driven ashore at 
Uyea Sound, and, having been 'Mlinched,” were left to decay above 
high-water mark. Many of the Eavens, if not most of them 
must have been sitting upon their eggs at that time, and it 
therefore appears rather unaccountable that as night approached 
a considerable number of the gorged birds would flap across 
to the island of Uyea, where they would remain in safety until 
daylight enabled them to return to the horrid feast. The flock 
was continually added to by new arrivals, some of them 
coming to procure choice morsels either for their young or for 
their sitting mates, and the numbers gradually increased 
until the 18th of June, after which day, the food being 
nearly all gone, the crowd of birds speedily began to lessen. 
On visiting the island of Uyea one evening about that time, I 
was astonished to observe the edge of the cliff perfectly black- 
ened with Eavens preparing to roost among the ledges. I 
heard several estimates of their number, but, after making con- 
siderable allowance for exaggeration, felt satisfled that eight 
hundred would be very near the mark. Walking along the 
cliffs after they had retired, and shouting to bring them out, 
my brother-in-law fired and killed three at one shot as they 
flew from beneath— a previously unheard-of feat. 
lJuring the winter the chief miscliief done l)y the Eaven is 
among tlie weakly j)onies and sheep, many a one of these perish- 
