180 
RAVENS. 
beyond tbe memory of the most ancient chronicler of the 
parish. Probably most of our readers have, if not within 
their own precincts, at least within their knowledge, a vener- 
able establishment of this description. Ours is a noble beech, ! 
about ninety feet in height, in the centre of a beautiful wood, I 
- — from time immemorial called the Raven tree. At one 
extremity of this wood, a noisy troop of Jackdaws have long 
been accustomed to rear their progeny unmolested, provided 
they venture not too near the sacred tree of the Ravens, — 
in which case, one or other of the old birds dashes upon the 
intruder, and the wood is in an uproar, till the incautious 
bird is driven off. Pew have dared to scale the height of 
this famed tree ; but the names of one or two individuals are 
on record, who have accomplished the perilous undertaking, 
and carried off the contents of the nest. 
Some years ago the wife of a neighbouring farmer made 
such loud complaints, on the diminution of a fine brood of 
young Turkeys, which occasionally wandered from her farm- 
yard into some fields adjacent to the wood, that one of the 
old ones was shot : it proved to be the female, whose young 
ones had unfortunately been hatched, and were then nearly 
fledged. For a time, the surviving parent hovered about the 
nest, uttering loud and menacing croakings whenever any- 
body approached. At length, however, he disappeared, and 
absented himself for two or three days, and then returned 
with another mate ; when a strange scene occurred. The 
poor half- starved nestlings were attacked without mercy by 
the stepmother; who, after severely wounding, precipitated 
them from the nest ; two, however, were found at the foot of 
the tree with signs of life, and with great care and attention 
reared at the Rectory, about half a mile distant, and after j 
being slightly pinioned, were allowed their liberty ; but they 
seldom quitted the lawn or offices, roosting in a tree in the ; 
shrubbery. Here, however, they were soon discovered by 
their unnatural parents, who, for a long time, used to come 
at early dawn and pounce upon them with fierce cries. This 
antipathy to their young (which by several authors has been ! 
considered as peculiar to Ravens) has been remarked by 
