A lengthy discussion followed, in which Luna supplied several more suggestions that her father rejected.  Frustrated, both of them were pacing around the kitchen, waving their arms about to dispel any wrackspurts that might be hindering their thoughts.  Finally, Xenophilius exclaimed, “I’ve got it!  There’s a raven’s nest on the roof.  If there are eggs, you can pick one for yourself!”  Seeing that Luna showed interest in the prospect, he went on, “We can incubate it in the house.  You have to be the first animal the chick sees when it hatches.  When that happens, the chick will impress⁴ itself upon you.”

“Impress itself?” asked Luna.

“Yes, yes!” replied her father in growing excitement.  “That means the baby bird will think of you as its mother.  You will need to feed and care for the bird personally, of course.  If done properly, the young raven should prove completely loyal.  Wonderful!  Wonderful!”

“What’s so wonderful about ravens?”