82 
THE RAVEN - . 
beginning of January to that of June. I have found young Ravens on the 
banks of the Lehigh and the Susquehanna rivers on the 1st of May ; about 
ten days later on those of the majestic Hudson ; in the beginning of June on 
the island of Grand Manan off the Bay of Fundy ; and at Labrador, as late as 
the middle of July. The nest is always placed in the most inaccessible parts 
of rocks that can be found, never, I believe, on trees, at least in America. 
It is composed of sticks, coarse weeds, wool, and bunches of hair of different 
animals. The eggs are from four to six, of a rather elongated oval shape, 
fully two inches in length, having a ground colour of light greenish-blue, 
sprinkled all over with small irregular blotches of light purple and yellowish- 
brown, so numerous on the larger end, as almost entirely to cover it. The 
period of incubation extends to nineteen or twenty days. Only one brood 
is raised in a year, unless the eggs or young be removed or destroyed. The 
young remain in the nest many weeks before they are able to fly. The old 
birds return to the same nest for years in succession ; and should one of 
them be destroyed, the other will lead a new partner to the same abode. 
Even after the young have made their appearance, should one of the 
parents be killed, the survivor usually manages to find a mate, who under- 
takes the task of assisting in feeding them. 
The Raven may be said to be of a social disposition, for, after the breed- 
ing season, flocks of forty, fifty, or more, may sometimes be seen, as I 
observed on the coast of Labrador, and on the Missouri. When domesti- 
cated, and treated with kindness, it becomes attached to its owner, and will 
follow r him about with all the familiarity of a confiding friend. It is capa- 
ble of imitating the human voice, so that individuals have sometimes been 
taught to enunciate a few words with great distinctness. 
On the ground the Raven walks in a stately manner, its motions exhibiting 
a kind of thoughtful consideration, almost amounting to gravity. While 
walking it frequently moves up its wings as if to keep their muscles in 
action. I never knew an instance of their roosting in the woods, although 
they frequently alight on trees, to which they sometimes resort for the 
purpose of procuring nuts and other fruits. They usually betake themselves 
at night to high rocks, in situations protected from the northerly winds. 
Possessing to all appearance the faculty of judging of the coming weather, 
they remove from the higher, wild and dreary districts where they breed, 
into the low lands, at the approach of winter, when they are frequently seen 
along the shores of the sea, collecting the garbage that has been cast to land, 
or picking up the shell-fish as the tide retires. They are vigilant, industrious, 
and, when the safety of their young or nest is at stake, courageous, driving 
away Hawks and Eagles whenever they happen to come near, although in 
no case do they venture to attack man. Indeed, it is extremely difficult to 
