182 
RAVENS. 
which had been in confinement with the Canary birds for 
three or four years, without paying any attention to the nests, 
immediately took her place, and continued to sit very closely, 
though uselessly, over the chilled and lifeless eggs, which 
were completely addled. 
At all events, while sitting or rearing its progeny, the 
Raven deserves the highest credit for persevering attachment, 
and has been known (though one of the shyest and most 
suspicious of birds) to die rather than desert its post. Mr. 
White, the naturalist, of Selhorne, speaks of an old oak as 
his Raven-tree, which bulged out into a large excrescence in 
the middle of the stem, defying the attempts of all who 
aspired to get at the nest. Many had tried in vain; all 
were ambitious of surmounting the arduous task, hut when 
they arrived at the swelling, it jutted out so in their way, 
and was so far beyond their grasp, that the most daring and 
expert climbers were awed, and were obliged to give up the 
undertaking as too hazardous. So the Raven built on, nest 
after nest, in perfect security, till a fatal day arrived when 
the wood was to he levelled. It was in the month of 
February, and the old one was on her nest. The saw and 
the hatchet were both at work, the wedges were inserted into 
the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy blows of the 
beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall ; hut still the dam 
sat on. At last when it gave way the bird was flung from 
her nest, and though her constancy deserved a better fate, 
was whipped down by twigs, which brought her dead to the 
ground. 
But constant or affectionate as they may he to their brood, 
it lasts hut for a time ; and as is the case with Eagles, and 
indeed almost all birds, when the young ones are sufficiently 
matured to take care of themselves, the old ones invariably 
drive them away and live independently. We have noticed 
their hostility to the Jackdaws and other birds daring to in- 
trude on their favourite haunts ; they are themselves, how- 
ever, occasionally very outrageous marauders on the property 
of others. Between Rooks and Ravens, if a rookery per- 
chance is within visiting distance of a Raven’s abode, there 
