Another of our brigade of flesh-eating birds is the raven. The raven is a handsomer bird than the others. His glossy black feathers have blue and green tints on them. Ravens are often found in sea-side cliffs and trees. They feed on dead fish. The raven is noted as one of the most long-lived of birds. They are said to live a hundred years. They are found in nearly all climates and countries. While they eat all kinds of dead animal matter, they will also carry off young ducks and chickens. LESSON XXXVII. THE BIRDS IN THE WOODS. [Illustration: UNDER THE TREES.] I have told you how the crows chased a cat. That was not the only cat chase I have seen. One summer I had a house near a wood. Through the wood ran a brook, and near it was a marshy place. This is just such a spot as birds love. In that township no one was allowed to shoot birds, so birds of many kinds were plentiful. One day, as I stood on my porch, I heard a queer noise. Then around the corner of the house rushed a cat. After him, screaming, and flying low, came about twenty birds. They were headed by a blue jay. The jay flew down on the cat, and gave him a sharp peck. He pulled out some of the cat’s fur. Among these birds I saw the robin, oriole, wren, catbird, yellow-bird, yellow-hammer, blackbird, and several sparrows. They may have their little quarrels among themselves, but they all make common cause when the cat prowls in the woods to kill them. Once, when I lived in the southwest, I had many forest trees on my lawn. In these trees lived such birds as I have just named, also the peewee, the titmouse, and the bluebird. I had a tame squirrel that went up the trees and frightened the birds. After that they kept a sentinel always on a bough. If the squirrel left the grass for any tree, the alarm was sounded at once. Then all the birds near came in haste, and attacked the squirrel. They pecked and screamed at him, until he was glad to keep out of the trees. Soon he did not dare to touch a tree trunk. Among the wood birds the woodpecker is one of my favorites. He is a very fine fellow. There are many kinds of woodpeckers. We have the red-headed, the yellow-breasted, the gold-winged, the hairy, the downy, and others. They are very intelligent, diligent, and merry birds. They make their nests in holes in trees. It is wonderful how they know where to find a decayed spot in a tree that looks quite sound. The woodpecker will eat fruit and grain, but prefers insects. He, no doubt, saves many forest trees by eating up grubs and worms, which would destroy them. The woodpecker is a noisy bird. He is full of chatter to his mate. He talks to himself constantly when alone. His “drum” can be heard over all the wood. It is a fine sight to see him on a brown tree trunk. His plumage, black, white, green, scarlet, gold, can be seen from far. He whirls about, looking for grubs. He holds fast with his strong claws, and gives blow after blow with his great bill upon the tree.