228 
HAVEN. 
are" offered for its destruction. This, indeed, is 
almost the only check on their own multiplication. 
The strength of the bird itself renders it a match 
for most of its open enemies. Carrion is at all 
times eagerly sought after, and any circumstances 
which produce its presence, at the same time attracts 
these birds from their more usual haunts in the 
neighbourhood. In some of our Scottish deer 
forests, nowmostly letfor the sport of deer-stalking, 
we are told that the numbers which collect soon 
after the season has commenced, is in some parts 
almost incredible. They are drawn there by the 
spots where the deer have fallen, and by the ani- 
mals which have escaped wounded, and which 
have cither died, or from their weak and sickly 
state can be attacked without fear. Dr Richard- 
son, speaking of its habits in the fur countries, 
says,* “ The experienced native, when he sees 
from afar a flock of Ravens wheeling in small 
circles, knows that a party of his countrymen, 
well provided with venison, are encamped on the 
spot, or that a band of wolves are preying on the 
carcass of some of the larger quadrupeds, and 
pushes on briskly in the certain prospect of 
having his wants supplied and thus in another 
way is a knowledge of their habits made subser- 
vient to the necessities of man. Ravens are also 
said occasionally to frequent the vicinity of towns, 
but in Britain this is far from being frequent, 
though near some of the cities and villages on the 
Continent, where dead animals are more com- 
* Northern Zoology, ii. p. 290. 
