CORVIDAE—CROWS.
139
out of danger. At this lapse of time, we confess our robbery seems rather cruel;
but never shall we forget our visit to the ' Raven's-tree.' "
A much more recent instance of the Raven breeding in Essex, is that reported
to me by Mr. Stanley Edwards, who writes that a pair
" used to build for some years in three Scotch fir-trees,'in the park of Lawford
Hall, near Manningtree, the property of F. M. Nicholls, Esq. These trees stand
quite alone on a mount, supposed to be the grave of some Roman chief, and are
very conspicuous all up the valley of the Stour. The birds used to nest there every
year, and were protected from the superstition of the villagers, which was much
increased by a mortality that occurred among the cows of the place at the same
time the Ravens first made their appearance, and which, of course, was laid to their
charge. I am speaking from memory, but should say they were there from 1870
to 1880, and then suddenly disappeared—why, or how, I have never been able to
learn. They did not seem to mind any one looking at their nest, beyond just
flapping slowly off to a neighbouring tree, from where they could watch the in-
truder. The Nichollses several times took a young one from the nest to bring up
as a pet."
Mr. Walter B. Nicholls, who has sent me corroborative information, adds :
"The Ravens came to us from Sutton, just over the river [Stour], in the
winter of 1870-71, I think, and stopped some six or seven years. On their arrival
they did some damage among weakly lambs, but never afterwards, so far as I ob-
served, preyed on anything so near home. They always had two nests in adjoin-
ing trees in a clump of firs growing on a barrow here. The cock bird was mag-
nificent in appearance, as he rushed barking from the trees at the first sight of
anybody approaching : the hen permitted a much nearer approach."
Quite a number of other " Raven-trees " have been reported to me from time
to time in various parts of the county.
As regards the breeding of the Raven in Essex at the present day, it may be
said, I believe, that we still have several nests annually, all of them in the low-
land parts near the sea, but it is not wise to reveal their exact whereabouts to ra-
pacious collectors. For most of my information relating to them, I am indebted
to Mr. E. A. Fitch, who has carefully collected all the available facts. That gen-
tleman tells me that from " time immemorial," a pair built on the " Raven-tree '"
—a large elm—on his farm on Northey Island, but they deserted it in 1887. The
principal nest I know of is built in a tall elm, being one of many similar trees
standing in a hedgerow on an island off the coast which is fortunately rather
difficult of access. It has been built in the same spot regularly for many years
past, notwithstanding the fact that, for several years at least, not one young one
has been allowed to fly. In 1886, four young birds were taken from it, of which
one is still alive, the rest having been stung to death by bees. In July, 1887, the
same gentleman took three more, and again in 1888 the entire brood. In Sep-
tember of that year I visited the spot, when I found the nest, which was chiefly of
sticks, rags, wool and matting, lying on the ground below the tree, having been
poked down by a farm-lad because Hawks had laid eggs in it after the Raven's
nest. In April following, I again visited the spot, but the tree was not then oc-
cupied. However, the Ravens had been seen about shortly before and were
doubtless nesting in the vicinity, though several likely-looking nests we found
seemed to be unoccupied. In the southern part of the county I have been in-
formed of several nests—two of them within a quarter of a mile of one another
— which were occupied very recently and probably are now, but I have not been
able to visit the spot. In 1888, too, there was a nest on Brick House Farm,,
Mundon, but it was unoccupied the following year. Probably other nests
might be found. Two Ravens, which surely must have been breeding