378 
The Raven 
and settle here in quest of food and not infrequently the hoarse croak 
of a Raven may be heard in the trees nearby. In fact, these great 
black birds come at irregular intervals all during the summer to 
pick up such scraps of food as were available. 
In August, 1916, I saw a Raven feeding her three young with 
scraps picked up at a garbage heap back of a hotel on the western 
verge of the Glacier National Park in Montana. Although aware 
that she was being watched the old Raven would unhesitatingly come 
to the garbage heap, walk around until she found something that 
suited her fancy, and then fly with it to the trees fifty yards away. 
Apparently she would not suffer her young to leave the shelter of 
the forest. The wide range of the croaks and cries made by the 
young was indeed astonishing. 
Anyone who may chance to be in the mountains of western North 
Carolina and may desire to see Ravens can usually have their wish 
gratified by going out to some of the remote settlements and visiting 
the places where cattle are slaughtered for market. Sometimes as 
many as eight or ten Ravens gather around a slaughter pen and with 
evident impatience await their opportunity for a banquet. 
From the above references it may be seen that the Raven has a 
wide range in the United States. In fact, there are few states north 
of South Carolina and Louisiana where it may not be seen, although 
its range is far more restricted than in former times. Many of the 
early writers speak of seeing Ravens in territories not now inhabited 
by them. For example, Thomas Lawson, Gentleman, who visited 
the coast country of Carolina in the year 1700, writes of seeing it 
there. Today Ravens rarely if ever occur east of the mountainous 
portions of the Carolinas. 
Regarding the habits and manners of the Raven during the nest- 
ing season John James Audubon has given this description in his 
usual picturesque language. 
“Their usual places of resort are the mountains, the abrupt banks 
of rivers, the rocky shores of lakes, and the cliffs of thinly-peopled 
or deserted islands. It is in such places that these 
birds must be watched and examined, before one can 
judge of their natural habits, as manifested amid 
their freedom from the dread of their most dan- 
gerous enemy, the lord of creation. 
“There, through the clear and rarified atmosphere, the Raven 
spreads his glossy wings and tail, and, as he onward sails, rises 
higher and higher each bold sweep that he makes, as if conscious 
that the nearer he approaches the sun, the more splendent will become 
the tints of his plumage. Intent on convincing his mate of the fer- 
vour and constancy of his love, he now ^ntly glides beneath her, 
floats in the buoyant air, or sails by her^fide. Would that I could 
describe to you, reader, the many musical inflections by means of 
which they hold converse during these amatory excursions! These 
sounds doubtless express th^jr pure conjugal feelings, confirmed and 
rendered more intense by long years of happiness in each other’s 
Audubon’s 
Account 
