THE RAVEN. 
129 
formed, measiiriug about a foot across. I have seen tlie birds 
carrying on their work during a fall of snow, but stormy wet 
weather nearly always entirely puts a stop to it. The time 
of laying is very uncertain, but T do not think it is ever earlier 
than the first week in IVIarch. Most of the eggs which I have 
seen — and they number many dozens — were obtained about 
the middle or end of April ; yet, as early as the 4th of that 
month, I have known both fresh eggs and half-fledged young 
to be taken on the same day. Dr Arthur Edmondston is 
incorrect in stating the number of eggs to be three, four being 
the number usually found ; five or six are sometimes laid, but 
I never could hear of more than four young birds in a nest. I 
have observed that when five or six eggs occur, one or two 
are sparingly coloured and of unusual shape. The upper figure 
in Mr Hewitson’s work gives an excellent idea of the egg, both 
as to size and colour ; yet not infrequently the egg is greatly 
elongated, or, on the other hand, is nearly as small as that of 
the Hooded Crow. The average length seems to be slightly 
under two inches. The male and female take an equal share 
in building the nest and in feeding the young ; but, so far as 
I have observed, it is only occasionally that the male assists 
in hatching, his chief duty seeming to be that of hovering 
about the edge of the cliff, in order to give timely warning on 
the approach of an intruder. The sitting female is always 
ready to dash out from the nest and give chase to any chance 
gull or other large bird which may happen to pass too near. 
It is strange that a bird so shy and suspicious should so 
obstinately attach itself to one particular spot, even after the 
nest has been very rudely disturbed. One day, for instance, a 
party of boys discovering a nest in a deep gyo” threw stones 
into it from a projecting point of rock on the opposite side, 
laying it in ruins, and breaking the three eggs which it 
contained, but, strange to say, without causing the birds to 
desert the spot; for in less than a fortnight afterwards not 
only was the nest repaired, but it even contained a fresh set 
of eggs. 
I 
