ENMITY OF THE EATEN AND THE FOX. 
of repose, let loose among them these live scare-crows. The 
ravens, terrified by the appearance of these strange-looking 
creatures, which, it seems, they failed to recognize as their 
own kinsfolk, betook themselves to flight in a body, and did 
not again return to the island.” 
I am of opinion (and I am certain that every English boy 
will indorse it) that it was a great pity that the ravens did 
not “ recognize their kinsfolk,” and revenge the diabolical cruelty 
inflicted on them, by wasting and consuming every ear of barley 
belonging to the inhabitants of the Sound of Harris. 
An apt illustration of the proverb, that “ two of a trade can 
never agree,” is furnished by the fact of the raven and the fox 
being the most deadly enemies. The sight of the latter is 
enough to set the raven croaking and hissing in the most 
vindictive way. Instances have occurred during the chase, 
where reynard has been betrayed into the hands of his red- 
coated enemies through the raven crying hoarsely, and wheeling 
about the spot where he lay concealed. 
In some parts of the country there is current the following 
distich : — 
“ Pray, ere you go in quest 
Of sea-mew, or raven’s nest.” 
But better advice is not to attempt raven-nesting at all. They 
build in the most inaccessible places, in the clefts of beetling 
rocks, or at the very summit of the tallest trees they can find. 
Gilbert White gives an account of a raven’s nest at Selborne. 
He says, “ In the centre of a grove stood an oak, which, 
though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large 
excrescence, about the middle of the stem. On this a pair of 
ravens had fixed their nest for such a series of years that the 
oak was distinguished by the name of the raven-tree. Many 
were the attempts of the neighbouring youths to get at the 
eyrie. The difficulty whetted their inclinations, and each was 
ambitious of surmounting the arduous task. But, when they 
arrived at the swelling, it jutted out so in their way, and was 
so far beyond their grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, 
and acknowledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. So 
the ravens built on, in perfect security, nest upon nest, till the 
fated day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled. It 
was in the month of February, when they usually sit. The 
saw was applied to the trunk ; the wedges were applied to the 
opening ; the woods echoed to the heavy blows of the mallet ; 
and the tree nodded to its fall ; but still the dam sat on. At 
d 2 33 
