BAVEN.
CORVUS CORAX, Linn.
Corvus corax, Linn. S. N. i. p. 155 (1766); Naum. ii. p. 43;
Macg. i. p. 498; Hewitson, i. p. 220; Yarr. ed. 4, ii.
p. 259; Dresser, iv. p. 567.
Corbeau, French; Kolk-Rabe, German; Cuervo, Grajo,
Spanish.
This most sagacious of birds, though formerly well
known in almost all parts of the three kingdoms, is now
uncommon in cultivated and game-preserving districts,
and its breeding-places in England, except on our coasts,
are few and far between. Entertaining, as I do, a great
admiration for the Raven, and fully aware of his value
as a most efficient destroyer of small four-footed vermin,
I fear that it is impossible to deny that he is a formidable
enemy to the shepherd, the poultry-keeper, and
game-preserver; but, admitting his natural delinquencies
to the fullest extent, I must yet plead for mercy for him
on account of his beauty, courage, marvellous intelligence,
and comparative scarcity at the present time in
our country.
The Raven is an early breeder. I have seen well-
feathered young birds offered for sale in London in the
latter end of March. This bird rears its young year
after year in the same spot, generally in a hole or crevice
in the face of a cliff, but also often in a tall and
“ difficult ” tree. The old birds will drive off almost
any bird from the neighbourhood of their nest, and their
great wing-power and strength render them most formidable
antagonists, even to the Ealcon. No birds are
more easily tamed than Ravens, and certainly none more
amply repay in all ways the small amount of care and
attention that they require.
R A V E N ,