R A V E N .
whom they might Info belonged. A tow x t i p , 1.a 1 • rL 1..> from an old fustian jacket, Hie toe-OBp and sole of a
hoot, and tlie texture of llie small remaining pieces ul' rag, indicated (hat llirirowner hud belonged lo (lie labouring
class or might have hern a I ramp. As the Havens were always noticed near the same spot, I have not theslightest
duuht that they had discovered the body, and returned there regularly to feed as long as they could
find any thing tn prey upon. Though I have passed the same hill repeatedly of late years, T have never seen
one of these birds within mill's of the sjiot since the autumn previous to the discovery of the remains.
Oamc-preservrrs are so accustomed to look upon the Raven as an enemy, that they commonly forget his
hhek fcalhers may [nwalhlj conceal a few redeeming qualities. There is, however, little doubt that in some
districts he v. ill consume a number of rats in the course of the year. 1 watched one on the shores of the 1'irth of
Forth, near Tnnlalh.n, busily cugngii! in making a meal oil'a large rat he had surprised below high-water mark.
Quantities of these destructive brutes resort during the summer to this part of the coast, betaking themselves
in winter to t be farn,-tendbins. Other instances of an almost similar n .lure have come under my notice.
The Haven, like most of the Crow tribe, is remarkably easy lo capture by means of traps. Though
generally considered a cunning and sagacious bird, he appears to be unable to resist a bail, even if be has
witnessed one of his kind struggling at the identical spit a short time previously. While laying out traps a
few years hack in Perthshire, early in September, lor some Buzzards which bad been seen frequenting the high
moors (one or two of which I was auxious lo secure as specimens), I noticed that large lloeks of Ravens were
busy searching the hills for food. We had only set one trap, and moved about a quarter of a mile to prepare a
•pot for another, wben I became aware by the commotion among the black parly that one of their number
must have been taken, Betwit-D a do/en and a score were living ¡11 circles over the place, darting down and
croaking in the greatest excitement. When we had completed the second trap, we returned to the lirst, and,
niter removing the lietim and resetting the trap, proi-eeded uphill to set a third. Before the work was again
finished it was evident that two more were taken ; and during the whole day we could set 110 more than four traps,
as I did not like to leave the poor brutes when I knew they were struggling in the traps. Every bird caught
after the lirst one (and there were over a dozen captured) must have seen the fate of those that approached the
bait ; but it had no effect as a warning. As I stated previously, these Itavens were perfectly harmless on the
moors at this season ; and ihuugh t have known as many as two or three hundred captured liefore the winter
set in, it would, I am now convinced, have been no detriment to the ground bad they remained unmolested. It
was, however, impossible to set 0 trap in the open wilh any conspicuous bait without it being sooner or later
discovered by these birds.
Early hi September ISIJTi I captured, in the north-west of Perthshire, a Haven whose tongue protruded
through a small hole in the loose membrane under the lower mandible. The skin was perfectly healrd round
the wound, though the bifurcation at the liase of the tongue prevented the bird retracting it into the mouth.
It is difficult to imagine bow such a mishap could possibly have been brought aliout, unless it 11.1s caused hv a
sharp-pointed bone belonging lo some prey that the bird bad been tearing, which passed through the skin, and
was mowed by the tongue in the etforts of the sufferer to clear the wound. This Raven was ¡11 perfect health
and plumage, and weighed as much as (if not more than) two o r three others taken at the same time. Dating the
following year 1 trapped another in precisely the same plight. As in the former case, its misfortune appeared
to have had not the slightest effect on its health or condition.
In order to become thoroughly acquainted wilh the manner in which the Raven gains its living, and also
to study its habits when in company wilh other birds of prey, I have ul different limes put up bothies or
shelters on the mountain-side, from which I was enabled to watch some dead carcass—either a sheep that bad
succumls'd to disease, or a worn-oul horse we had driven uphill and slaughtered for Ike purpose. Several
writers have described so exactly how these foul-feeding birds revel ia the midst of the decomposing remains
and contend with loud and angry screams over their putrid banquet, that it is useless for me to enter into the
details of such an unsavoury subject.
RAVEN, 3
In the north this s|>ecics uesls on ledges and in crevice* among the rugged and broken slabs of stone in
the most inaccessible parts of the inland mountains, and also in wild rocky precipices overhanging the sea.
On various parts of the coast a few stragglers may still he met with all round our islands. One or two pairs
resort to the chalk cliffs near Beaehy Head in Sussex ; and I have several limes observed the birds in the
neighbourhood of the Lizard and the easleru portion of Mounts Bay, and also along llu: wild and mossgrown
headlands between the Ijtgnn Hook and the Land's End. I am afraid llie greater number of those
that frequented the largo woods in the interior or the oountry are now driven from their quarters by the felling
of the timber or constant persecution. Tin' nest itself is a large coarse structure, heather-stalks being freely
used in its composition in the barren districts of the north, nml the architects making use of whatever branches
and twigs came nearest in other localities. The interior is a mixture of sheep's wool, moss, hair, line grass,
and other soft materials.
The Plate shows an adult bird wilh a dead white ham—a common sight on the hill-tops on the day
following a big drive in many isiunties in the Highlands.
The tricks and eeecut 1 ieities of Raven- in confinement have frequently b 1 described and commented
upon by various writers ; and numbers of these birds whose hahils were more or less peculiar and amusing have
come under my own observation. I cannot, however, pass over, without a few remarks, one that I becninn
acquainted with while at the University. In the centre of the town of Cambridge there was ¡11 those days
(now over twenty years a;_ro) an establishment well known lo most undei graduates whose tastes inclined towards
sporting matters. Anyone who remembers the graphic sketch of the dog.dealer's yard in ' Tommielieg
Mmotmgl' can form an idea of the place, as the surroundings were almost identical. Hille-shoolou.', practised
after an original met hod at live pigeons, drew sundry embryo marksmen; but Ihe main attraction was the
spacious pit, in nhieh all sorts of battles between birds and beasts used to he fought, in addition to the legitimate
sport, of ratting. The encounter between the tame Itaveu and a rat could hardly he termed a light, as it
invariably ended in the disconiforture of the quadruped. A large strong rat would, however, occasionally
prove a tongh customer. After having llowu several times at the head of Ihe lord, it would discover it could
not face the terrible nips it received from the powerful bill of its adversary, and, partly crippled, would attempt
to seek safety by flight. The aspect of the Raven would now have been a fine study for an artist: with every
feather on end, hopping and croaking, and occasionally almost screaming with rage, he would rclentlcssly
pursue his retreating victim round and round the pit. When at length a lucky blow had put an end to the
contest and " Old Nick " (the Haven) bad bean lifted out of the pit, be would shuffle off across the yard to bis
cage, bearing in his beak the body of his fallen foe, on which to regale himself at his leisure. Ilia roguish
glance of distrust nt the company, evidently fearing to bo robbed of his prey, while be sidled back to his den
wus comical in the extreme.
The domestic arrangements or Ihe happy family tliat were
f the same enclosure with " Old
I can remember, consisted of a
N i c k ' w e r e at feeding lime exceedingly amusing. The group, as
Goose (a pink-footed, winged on Midsummer Common), some Owls, a few small Hawks, a couple of Magpies,
a single Jay, and Iwo or three Jackdaws. If it happened that his sable Majesty had been performing in the
pit and bis appelile was appeased, he would content himself with simply examining every piece of food lhat
was provided, and then retiring lo his favourite perch he would quietly regard the contentions of his subjects,
up|iareully thoroughly disgusted by their gluttony. When, however, he was " s h a r p " Uke llie rest, his
excitement increased as the hour drew near, till at last, when the basket containing his loathsome repast
appeared in sight, he positively danced with delight; and small indeed were the portions lhat would
have fullen to the share uf his companions in captivity liad their interests not been looked after by
tbe attendant There never was a better illustration of the old Scotch saying, " He needs a lang spune
that sups wi' the Dc'il."