T his is by far the largest specimen ^?hevgeri1^S, among
British Birds, the character and size of "the Raven “c^usiher it
to be exceedingly well known, whil6 from the great exfeift of
its geographical-range, north of the-equator, iHs -alsb^s universally
recognised in many other-parts of the w 'o rl^ l itfii in
this country. Bold, as well as sagaeious, with' a4 quick* eye,
and a keen sense'of snaelh," the Raventi&ialwfy&'an ofjllfi of
suspicion to shepherds and husbandmen; 7 No" an
animal betray any signs of weakness, but H e ' Rav%nP§*-ihbre
on the'watch for an opportuhity/td^sktisfyfhis' kppetite. At
first he makes-hisApproach with great cautidp^;^^p4w l ^ ^ it
has befen aptly observed;|thougF glad"f^fihd other# harei^i,
or In m ^ e carrion of them, if he^yB ^ P i^with impiujit^iia
takes'good care that nbn‘e.iihair make?carrion- of ‘ him. I f the
herdsman absents himself, arid n’cf^other ifiltc^Bui on^o^nYs,
he makes his first attack upon the^'^^^^afterwalfd feeds^at his
leisure, retiresho a small distance'-td;digest his mealfkwfhcn
returns to feed again.
The Raven inhabits high rocks on the je a ’COast^exthnJMe
woods, mountains-, or open plains, where, danger may bc^e’eh
and avoided. Like the other birds' of^this genus, |||e Ravin
is not particular in his food ; but eats iridisCrimihateiy' small
mammalia,-bird®, or their eggs, reptilesplnsects, grain,
carrion; on the sea coast the-shore is closely ..searched for
dead fish of any sort, or.other animal substance washed up by
the hide.
These birds breed very early in the season. By the beginning
of February they may h ^ e .e n visiting and repairing
their nest of theprevious year. Thisds Usually placed in a very
high tree, where the difficulty of the ascent, in~soine instances,
and a superstitious fear “ # # the Bird of Odin” in dihers^ contribute
to allow them to occupy the same spot for many.years ,
in succession. Raven trees, as they are.; called, exist in many
different places ; and these birds not bnly "livC'toJa great age,
but are considered fo>pair for life. I t has been observed that
if’ a|pp|®éM4ferif' happens f©^either' of the birds, thé survivpr
’q u id ^ ^ .obtains ■'another ina|e'; and should both- birds be
killed, the same locality,-from Seine unknown eftuse ofattrac-
èi^»iSv almost certain to be becupmËbby another pair.
The pjëSt is;generallysplaced in the fork' of a. branch, and
is fomei|^énifthe^utsriiè?'of ssticks, with a lining o£ wool and
■hair;. thev^gs- afe .four - or five' in - number,' two inches' in
leng®!^^ breadth, of-a pale green
grbunjda colour, sp!f^fgd^!and. Spéefele'd > Wjth ’ darker greenish
bfOwm, Incubation with -the Raven- lasts twenty daySp dur-
ip g ^ h ic h th^j.in#1 fertile 'as i^ e i/|its upon thé
and bct^sionaily takes - her ^ place upon' the eggs ; the
w,a^|s) of tlre‘|jy^!aa%|f^||feupplied- for- a timet by the 'parents
wifch‘ïgieat®®ndernéss%and- assiduity;- but" th©^ afterwards
drive themöfr^] n own haunts when they^aré -ablèfo provfd^
for themselv^C? .
Thoughtpo&sèSséd'b f ■ grëat power'aS well as courage, the
old •biSdsyfeakefe noi-defence againt^l aby attempt,: by "risen of
■^iys^?to rob their InpStftbut against ‘0e4ittack ©Mother'birds,
<md te^en^very large » ones/ they'defend their, eggs or young
with «great boldness and perSeverancéöf| Gilbert White; of
Selbornefïrelates that his brother, the Rev. John White, a
yiöjfl exact obseryer, had' remarked/ that a pair of Ravens'
nesting' in the rock of Gibraltar, would suffer no Vulturé or
•Eagle t o ’resf near tbeir station, but would drive them frond
thé,hill with amazingf fury. On thé ^ocky parts of our own
.coasi fchSdseybircls make. their UiestS very high tip in crevices
among the mostprecipitous and least accessible places.
They, are observed'in different parts of Ireland, in the Hebrides,
Orkney/ and Shetland.
Southward in Europe, this bird is found from Gibraltar
along the northern shores of the . Mediterranean Sea. In the
Alpine countries' of central Europe, it inhabits tbe wooded