THE RAVEN. 267

of the ‘raven tree.’ Many were the attempts of the neigh-
bouring youths to get at this eyrie; the difficulty whetted
their inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting
the arduous task; but, when they arrived at the swelling, it
jutted out so much in their way, and was so far beyond
their grasp, that the boldest lads were deterred, and acknow-
ledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. Thus the ravens
continued to build nest after nest, in perfect security, till the
fatal day arrived on which the wood was to be levelled.
This was in the month of February, when these birds usually
sit. The saw was applied to the trunk, the wedges were
inserted in the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy
blows of the beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall;
but the dam persisted to sit. At last, when it gave way, the
bird was flung from her nest; and though her maternal affec-
tion deserved a better fate, was whipped down by the twigs,
which brought her dead to the ground.” Ravens are said
to pair for life and to live for a hundred years.

Unnatural Though models of conjugal fidelity, Ravens

Parents. are gaid to be very unnatural parents, often
showing not only indifference but cruelty to their young.
Mr. Morris in his “ Anecdotes of Natural History” tells an
interesting story of a family of ravens whose mother came
to an untimely death. “For a time the surviving parent
hovered about the nest, uttering loud and menacing croakings
whenever anybody approached. At length, however, he
disappeared, and absented himself for two or three days,
and then returned with another mate, when a strange scene
occurred. The poor half-starved nestlings were attacked
without mercy by the step-mother, who, after severely
wounding, precipitated them from the nest; two, however,
were found at the foot of the tree with signs of life, and
with great care and attention reared at the rectory, about
half a mile distant, and after being slightly pinioned, were
allowed their liberty; but they seldom quitted the lawn or