out number, for a succession of numberless years. 



If any more youngsters escape from the brood- 

 pouch, the fact is lost to me; for at this conjunc- 

 ture I am compelled to take notice of the males; 

 a fight is in progress between the pair. 



Like two boxers, they face each other, their 

 murderous-looking claws upheld in readiness to 

 strike at the first auspicious chance. For a moment 

 they remain motionless in an absurd attitude, in 

 spite of its sinister significance. Then one with a 

 seeming nonchalance brings over an antenna 

 against the other's body; whereupon the latter 

 with lightning swiftness shoots out his sickle-like 

 claw, hooking his opponent around the head. Now 

 follows some action. The other wrenches free his 

 head unhurt, and bending forward seizes the of- 

 fending arm of his foe with both claws. Al- 

 though one of the antagonists is slightly smaller 

 than the other, it is obvious that the two are evenly 

 matched in strength. In fact, so evenly matched 

 are they that it is hard for me to take sides . . . 

 Am I forgetting myself? Yes, I am become a 

 pleased and basely interested spectator of a blood- 

 less brawl between two diminutive brutes . . . 



The truth is, neither of the battlers, in spite of 



[i44] 



