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Description: |
xxii, 326 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm |
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Bibliography Note: |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-283) and index. |
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Summary, Etc. Note: |
Summary: The Raven is one of the most spectacular and romantic of British birds, but relatively neglected in the modern literature of ornithology. Derek Ratcliffe here presents a thorough summary of our knowledge of its natural history, emphasizing the long association of the bird with humankind. The place of the Raven in myth, legend and history is long established, and this book describes the bird's fall from grace as a valued scavenger in medieval cities to a persecuted outcast in the modern wilds. The previous wide occurrence of Ravens is reviewed against the relationships between their present distribution, status and habitat requirements, as both a nesting and a non-breeding resident. The dependence of Ravens on carrion (especially sheep) within an omnivorous diet is the key to the species' ecology, and its social behaviour has evolved in close relation to this lifestyle. Today, Raven carry a new omen in the modern world, as a barometer of goodwill to wildlife. Like those in the Tower of London, the continued existence of Ravens in our wild countryside will reveal something about both our current situation and our prospects for the future. |
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Contents Note: |
Contents: Introduction: The Raven: spirit of the wilds -- 1. The Raven in Human History -- 2. The Raven's Country -- 3. Distribution and Numbers in Britain and Ireland -- 4. Food and Feeding Habits -- 5. Social Behaviour -- 6. Raven Movements -- 7. Associations with Other Animals -- 8. Breeding: Nest and Nest Site -- 9. Breeding: The Egg Stage -- 10. Breeding: The Young -- 11. Territorialism and Population Regulation -- 12. Ravens in the Modern Scene -- 13. Ravens Elsewhere in the World -- 14. Intelligence in Ravens -- App. 1. Distribution of Raven flocks and roosts in Britain and Ireland -- App. 2. Calls of the Raven -- App. 3. Appearance of the Raven -- App. 4. Scientific names of animal and plant species in the text -- App. 5. Names of the Raven. |