Chris Scott, age 8, of Fredericton, N.B., Canada, for his question:

WHY DOES A RAVEN TURN HIS HEAD TO LOOK AT YOU?

Suppose your eyes changed places with your ears. No doubt you could hear everything going on in front of you  and perhaps around the sides. But your eyes would have a big problem. One would be able to see the scenery on your right side. The other would have a fine view of things on your left side. But they could not work together and look straight ahead.

Notice that the raven's eyes are placed one on each side of his head When he wants to take a good look at something straight in front of him, he must turn his head and concentrate with one eye.

Actually this eye arrangement is a great help to a bird. He gets a good view of each side and catches a glimpse of what goes on in front and behind him. This helps him to spot trouble from almost all directions. But when he wants to take a close look at something in front, he has to turn his head and concentrate with one eye.