R A V E N .
CORJ'US CORAX.
the country, being found in larger or smaller numbers from
moor and the steep hill-sides of the Highlands, as well as the
TUTS quaint birtl is very generally distributed
north to south. The wild and deserted ranges of mo
broken and precipitous cliff's of the adjacent islands,
most suited to its habits; and here it may be mid
ration takes place in s<
imbers of these birds
. Northern Highlands oi
sat the hills in this pa:
-anced I have on severe,
vo has been held. It •
ng over the hills on the day toll
doubt the r
nUected to*
[ the shooting.
order to be
As the B*
cling the p;
Mllcctcd to feed
noticed, during several
he north-west of Perthshire as soon
e early in September. As but few
parties of ten or a dozen, and now
lence that our shores are visited by
birds had strayed from some part of
unense numbers of blue hares thai,
traction to the locality. As winter
in ground where an extensive haresixty
Ravens in view at once while
.sons I made a practice of closely
th the numbers and variety of the
n the wounded hares that escaped
md their visits w beneficial
vermin frequenting ll
from the guns, they w
rather than otherwise.
In the vicinity of their nesting-quarters I have good evidence that they will de-troy both young birds anil
eggs. The few pairs that html in the west ur Perthshire usually have their nesls at a considerable elevation
among the hills; and T noticed them on several occasions carrying off the eggs of the Ptarmigan. In some
of the wilder islands off the west coast these birds, together with the Grey Crows, wage a constant war against
tho eggs or young of the few Grouse that manage to subsist in their neighbourhood.
There is nothing in the way of carrion that will come amiss to these keen-sighted birds. I have observed
them preying on every kind of animal refuse cast up by the waves, disputing, hoi li on ihe shores of Ihe -dlwater
lochs and on the hill-sides, with Gulls, Crows, and lluzzards for the carcasses of defunct seal-, -beep,
horses, or hares, and barely giving place when the Sea-Eagle made his appearance and claimed his share. It is
also well known among shepherds in the north that weakly sheep or lambs are now aud then attacked while living,
the ravenous birds snatching their favourite portions from the quivering victim before life is extinct.
Several times during Seplenibi r and October 1 ~-7<^, ivhilc passing over tin- South lloiiii- near S:nhlh -combe in
Sussex, I noticed a pair of Havens flying from the Dyke Hill. A year or so later a dead body or, rather, a
skeleton was discovered in a patch of furze near the top of the hill. The remains aud the clothing had been so
much destroyed by the attacks of vermin and exposure to weather that it was almost impossible to judge to