438 
RAVEN. 
frequently obstinate ; both fight in earnest, both 
contend for the ascendency, and that with such 
perseverance, that they sometimes mount entirely 
out of sight, till, overcome with fatigue, one or both 
fall to the ground. Their attachment to their young 
lasts even after they can fly, as M. Hebert has 
proved by the observations he made on the ravens 
which inhabit the mountains of Bugey. This gen- 
tleman noticed a family of them which bred every 
year opposite to his windows upon the rocks which 
terminate the prospect. The young, to the num- 
ber of four or five, sat on the large detached frag- 
ments about the middle of the precipice, where 
they were easily seen, and drew notice by their con- 
tinual wailing. Every time that the parents brought 
them food, which happened frequently during the 
course of the day, they called with a cry very diffe- 
rent from their other noise. Sometimes one tried 
to fly ; and after a slight essay, it returned to settle 
upon the rock. Some one was generally left be- 
hind, and its wailing then became incessant. After 
the young had strength sufficient to fly, that is fifteen 
days at least after leaving the nest, the parents con- 
ducted them every morning to the field, and in the 
evening led them back. It was commonly five or six 
in the afternoon when the family returned, and 
they spent the rest of the day in noisy brawling. 
The plumage of these ffirds is known to vary in 
some countries, perhaps from the influence of 
climate, as they have been seen quite white near 
the arctic circle, and pied in the Feroe isles. Ad- 
