The Ravens

Visitors to the 870-year-old Tower of London used to be fascinated by three pairs of ravens that strutted around Tower Green, where so many heads have rolled. A legend, probably the work of one of the Tower guides, has it that the ravens fed off the headsman's victims. More probably they were first attracted by the garbage dumped out of Tower windows until sanitation set in during the 19th Century. When the Tower was opened as a show place, the ravens' wings were clipped, and they also became an exhibit.

World War II introduced a croaking note of tragedy; two ravens were killed by German bombs; one died of old age. His relict, Pauline, forced her enthusiastic attentions on Gripp, the surviving male. Gripp and his wife, Mabel, an intensely monogamous couple, were so outraged that they beat up Pauline. She died of her wounds.

Last month gloom deepened; Mabel disappeared. Gripp was grief-stricken. Then he too disappeared. In inner Tower circles it is suspected that Mabel's kidnapper kidnaped Gripp to keep her company. All over Britain farmers offered replacements.

Last week a new pair of ravens, Cora & Corax, the gift of a Welsh farmer, arrived at the Tower. With their wings clipped and their feathers preened, they will make their public debut this week.

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