RAVENS* 
225 
two Crows, or, in failure thereof, must pay a certain 
sum to the provincial judge, that these destructive 
birds may be exterminated. Besides its human 
enemies, it has, in those islands, other very formidable 
ones of its own order, in the shape of certain sea- 
birds, called the Oyster-catcher ( Hcematopus ostra- 
legus ) or Sea-pie, and the Puffins, or Sea-Parrots. 
The former follows it in its rapid flight, and darting 
its long sharp bill into its back, makes it scream out, 
and then, by a shrill cry, collects several more of its 
own species, which unite in pursuing the persecuted 
Raven, and oblige it to seek shelter in holes amongst 
the rocks, where its back can be protected. 
The Puffin acts rather in self-defence, for the 
Raven is the aggressor, — attacking the Puffins for 
the purpose of eating their eggs, of which the Ravens 
are remarkably fond ; in this case, a desperate fight 
ensues; for the Raven usually takes an opportunity 
of committing the theft when the Puffins are at sea 
in search of food, and he can, without opposition, 
enter the holes or burrows in which the Puffins 
breed ; but should the latter catch the robber in the 
hole, on returning, it darts its claws into his breast, 
seizes him by the neck with its strong razor-formed 
bill, and as soon as they issue from the hole, struggling 
with each other, the Raven endeavours to ascend to 
the land, while the Puffin, on the contrary, does its 
best to descend to the water; and if it succeeds, it 
becomes, for the most part, the conqueror, for when 
the Raven s feathers get soaked, he can no longer 
defend himself, and perishes. 
Young Ravens, it is well known, may be easily 
tamed ; but they are so cunning and mischievous, 
vol. i. a 
