CORVIDAE—CROWS.
137
the Raven nesting in Essex at the present day, within between forty
and fifty miles of the metropolis, is a matter of the highest interest
to ornithologists and very remarkable. In Suffolk, the last known
nest was in 1869, and in Norfolk the last was in or about 1872, while
in most other adjoining counties the Raven probably ceased to breed
still earlier. In Essex, the species is already on the verge of extinc-
tion, and it can hardly be expected that under any circumstances it
can exist with us very many years longer; but the disappearance of
so interesting a feature in our avifauna would be a thing to regret
deeply, and it is much to be hoped that the day of the Raven's final
extermination in Essex will be delayed as long as possible.
Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear state (9. 10) that
" The sons of Mr. Lord of Ramsey, Essex, took four young Ravens from a
nest and put them into a waggon in a cart-shed. About the same time, they des-
troyed the young of a Magpie, which had its nest near the cart-shed, and the
old Magpies, hearing the young Ravens crying for food, carried them some, and
constantly fed them till they were disposed of by the boys."
Mr.W. H.Hill (12. vi. 452) met with it round Southminster about 1832. Mr.
Parsons shot one (8) weighing 3lbs. on the shore at Shoebury, on Nov. 28th,
1834. King, in 1838, described it (20) as being then " not uncommon " in the
Sudbury district. Mr. Clarke states (24) that round Walden it used, forty years
ago, to be " not uncommon." He adds that it " builds annually at Audley End
and Debden Hall," but that in " 1839 and 1854 it was seldom seen." Both Ed-
ward Doubleday (15) and English (43. i. 24) include it in their list of Epping
birds.
Mr. J. H. Gurney writes to Mr. E. N. Buxton (47. 83) :
" A pair of Ravens used to nest in the Wanstead Heronry. Your grand-
father, Samuel Gurney, took me there one spring—I think about 1833 or 1834—
and we then saw two young Ravens which the keeper had taken out of the nest a
few hours previously. Your grandfather brought them and turned them loose
in the stable-yard at flam House, but as he would not have their wings cut, in a
few weeks' time they flew away."
Professor Newton informs me that he has six eggs, taken from a nest at Copt
Hall in 1846. They were sent by Mr. Conyers'gamekeeper to a dealer in Lon-
don, from whom Mr. Woolley obtained them. Mr. Edward Corder of Writtle tells
me that he knew of their breeding regularly on a tall elm at Warden's Hall, Will-
ingale, up to about 1865, and also in a very large oak-tree that used to stand
beside the Chelmer, near Broomfield Mills.
Lieut. Legge, writing from Shoebury in 1866, says (34. 599) :
" I was surprised to find three pairs nesting within a distance of six miles of
this station. They seemed to have preferred the lowlands, probably on account
of the large trees growing in the hedge-rows, as all three nests were built in
tall elms so situated. I have not yet met with any Ravens in the uplands of this
part of the county, but down here they both breed in the season and remain dur-
ing the winter. The first nest found was on the 16th of March, and was built
high up in the fork of a large elm."
Fifty years ago, Ravens were so common on the Essex coast that Dr. Laver
says (50. iii. 33) :
" A sheep 'cast' (as it is called), or in any other trouble, would, if neglected by
the shepherd, almost certainly be attacked by some of the numerous Ravens, when
maiming or a miserable death would be the result. It is astonishing for how