306 
CORVIDS. 
when full-grown, as in this instance.” Mr. Waterton states, that 
a tame raven kept at Walton Hall, “took a sudden dislike to an 
old duck, with which, till then, he had been on the best of terms ; 
and he killed her in an instant.” A raven which lived in the yard 
attached to the chief inn at Antrim, for about fifteen years, had 
occasional encounters with game-cocks brought thither to engage 
it, and bets pended on the issue. The raven in every instance 
proved the victor. Avoiding the blows of the cock, the former 
acted only on the defensive, until it could manage to lay hold of 
his head, which instantly was crushed in his powerful beak, and 
its antagonist fell lifeless on the ground. 
Mr. Robert Warren, junr., informs me, that when on the 27th 
of April, 1848, at the Reanies, — -lofty rocks, six miles southward 
of the entrance to Cork harbour — where the common cormorant 
(. Vhalacrocorax carlo) breeds ; he observed a pair of ravens visiting 
the nests for the purpose of carrying away the eggs : and saw not 
less than five borne off on the points of their bills. Their depre- 
dations were committed with impunity, as they only visited the 
nests during the absence of the owners. As these ravens had a 
nest about three hundred yards from the breeding haunt of the 
cormorant, the number of eggs they will thus abstract in a 
season, must be very great. 
The late Mr. T. R. Neligan of Tralee mentioned to me, that 
ravens chiefly frequent the sea-shore in the county of Kerry, 
where he had often seen them feeding on putrid fish. - * Great 
numbers of these birds are in some works, (especially those treat- 
ing of American ornithology,) described as flying in company. 
Although ravens may be seen every day in the year around Belfast, 
and usually in pairs, the most I have heard of being observed 
on wing together, did not exceed twelve in number. About 
Navarino and Athens, the raven has come under my notice — 
* Along the coast of Norway, ravens were remarked by my friend, the late George 
Matthews, Esq., of Springvale, to he “ in great numbers everywhere, and very tame. 
They perform the office of scavengers about the houses of the people, a very necessary 
and useful occupation, considering the quantities of fish offal thrown out.” Grey 
crows (C. cornix) were also very numerous. 
