238 
THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
was February, when the ravens, who build early, had just made their 
nest. Notwithstanding all the noise made by the woodman who was 
employed to cut down the tree, and the violent shocks the poor bird must 
have sustained, she continued sitting till the fall of the tree, when she was 
killed by the boughs. Ravens never have large broods, generally indeed 
there are only two or three young in each nest. They live chiefly on 
carrion, which they are said to smell at the distance of two or three miles; 
but they prey occasionally on the youngest and weakest of the lambs, if 
they can find an opportunity of attacking the flock in the absence of the 
shepherd. Wherever ravens abound, it is therefore necessary for the 
shepherds to watch during the lambing season; but luckily they are 
noisy birds, often uttering their hoarse croak, whether on the wing or at 
rest; and consequently they always give sufficient notice of their approach. 
Four or five ravens are often seen together at a certain season, and seem¬ 
ingly engaged in serious warfare. This is when the old ones are driving 
their young away to shift for themselves. The domestic hen, when she 
has chickens, has a dread of the raven, and with good reason; for if she 
strays from home, there is a risk that she may lose some of her brood. 
The crow is the only other bird that seems jealous of the presence of the 
raven : as the former flies after, and threatens to pounce on the latter, but 
is always received with an opposition which soon makes the crow retire. 
The Crow (Corvus corona ) ranks next to the raven, as he is an equally 
bold bird, and also lives on carrion. Crows are not gregarious. They 
build often in single trees, and rarely are two pairs seen near together. 
Nor will they allow any other bird to nestle, or even alight near their 
home. On this account they are excellent sentinels for protecting any 
field-crop, which other birds, such as rooks or wood-pigeons, would be 
inclined to feed on ; for if any of these last-mentioned birds show them¬ 
selves, they are instantly routed by the crows. The crows are no favour¬ 
ites of the housewife, for they will pick up and eat every stray egg they 
can find laid out of the hen-house ; and it is amusing enough to see a crow 
watching a vagrant hen or duck which may be about to lay. The crow 
seems to know perfectly well what is going on ; for no sooner does the 
hen cackle, or the duck flutter from the bank into the water, but down he 
drops, seizes the egg, and carries it off to be eaten in safety. After the 
breeding season crows become more sociable among themselves; for then 
parties may be seen of eight or ten together ; though they often quarrel 
about a dead mole or other animal they may chance to find. They fight 
with their feet more than with their bills, and grasp and tear each other 
most severely. 
The Rook (Corvus frugilegus ) is a species somewhat larger than the 
