The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-09

They know that for thousands of years the raven has been considered bird of ill-omen. that his hoarse croaklngs have governed the actions of great men in the weightiest matters, and It is not reasonable to ask them to regard him just as they do other birds. It pleases them better to think of him as wierd creature, filled with such qual- ities as are suggested by the curse which Shakespeare puts into the mouth of Caliban:
 AS wicked dew as e'er my mother
 brush'd
 With ravens feather from unwhole-
 some fen
 Drop on you both"
 Or by the words of Lady Macbeth on being told of the approach of Duncan:
 ''The raven himself is hoarse
 That croaks the fatal entrance of
 Duncan
 Under my battlements."
 But he is strange bird regarded in any light. His thoughtful expression as he looks steadfastly at you is as overlapping as his reputation, and you can hardly fail to get the impress sion that he understands you great deal better than you understand him and he realizes his advantage over you He has the same bold, mischievous character as his cousin, the crow, and the tales told of his extraordinary wit and intelligence would indicate that he is not far behind the other members of his family in these respects.
 The American raven differs but very slightly from the raven of Europe, of which it is a sub species. It measures from twentytwo to twenty-siX and a half inches from the tip of it's bill to the end of its tail, and it's entire plu- mage is black with steel-blue ref1ec- tions. When extended the wings measure about four feet from tip to tip, The plumage is subject to change. due to age and climate, and it is said that in Greenland snow white speci- mems have been found. It is widely distributed bird, but it is most common in the northern part of North America. It is found locally along the Atlantic coast as far south as North Carolina.
 The raven makes nest of sticks, lines with grasses, wool, hair and suchlike materials. It is usually built in some almost inaccessible place, either the top of a tall tree or in cleft of some beetling cliff. The eggs are from two to seven ill number, usually green or bluish green, sometimes spot ted or splashed with olive brown. They are about two inches long.
 The affection of the raven for it's young is perhaps nowhere better des- cribed than in Gilbert Whites &C., count of ravens nest at Selborne. He says:
 Tn the center of the grove stood an oak, which, though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large excrescense about the middle of the stem. On this a pair of ravens had fixed their nest for such series of years, that the oak was distinguished by the name of the raven tree. Many were the attempts of the neighboring youths to get at the eyrie. The ditfi- culty whetted their inclinations and each was ambitious of surmounting the arduous task. But when they ar rived at the swelling. it jutted out so in their way and was so far beyond their grasp, that the most daring lads were awed and acknowledged the un- dertaking to be too hazardous. So the ravens built on in perfect security, nest upon nest. till the fatal day ar rived in which the wood was to be levelIed It was in the month of Feb ruary. when they usually sit. The saw was applied to the trunk; the wedges were applied to the opening; the wod echoed to the heavy blows of the mallet; and the tree nodded in it's fall; but still the dam sat on. At last when it gave way, the bird was flung from it's nest. and though her parental affections desrved a better fate, was whipped down by the twigs which brought her head to the ground"
 The photographing ot the nests and eggs of ravens on their original sites has recently afforded most exciting sport to the few intrepid photograph CTS who have attempted it. MT. Cherry Kearton of England has been very successful at this kind of work. and his method of obtaining results. though simple, requires the skill and nerve of a trained athlete. On arriv- ing at the foot of cliff on which ravens nest is known to be situated, he fires pistol, which usually causes the bird to fly off and thus disclose the exact position of her abode, Then with two or three reliable men he goes to the top of the cliff, bearing. besides his camera. some stout ropes and a crowbar. At point directly above the nest the crowbar is driven into the ground, and the rope by which the photographer is to de- scend is twisted around 1t. MT. Kear- ton now adjusts one end of the rope about his waist and thighs, and while two or more of his companions man the other end. he steps backward over the edge of the cliff, with his camera strapped to his back. The men pay out the rope until he reaches the nest, and after he has photographed it they hoist him up again.
 ERNEST HAROLD BAYNEs.