n6 NEIGHBOURS UNKNOWN 



rage, but now he turned and struck back 

 savagely. More nimble than he, the skua 

 evaded the blow, and caught him by the neck. 

 And promptly the two became entangled 

 into a flapping, tearing jumble of beaks and 

 feathers. 



It was close beside the nest that the struggle 

 went on ; but meanwhile the two remaining 

 eggs were lying uncovered to the eyes of 

 prowlers. They did not lie there long. Two 

 more big saddle-backs straightway pounced 

 upon them, crushing them flat in the scuffle. 

 Engrossed though he was, the skua saw them. 

 He was only a shameless robber, but his 

 mettle was of a temper of the finest, and he 

 knew not fear. Tearing himself free from his 

 heavy foe, he pounced frantically upon these 

 new assailants of his home. Startled, they 

 hesitated whether to fight or flee. Then, 

 seeing the odds so far in their favour, they 

 turned to fight. The first saddle-back joining 

 them, they presently succeeded in pulling 

 the skua down. Then against their great 

 weight and overpowering wings, his courage 

 availed him little. Smothered, beaten, trod- 

 den upon, he disappeared from sight beneath 

 the yelping turmoil. The odds had been too 

 great for him. In half a minute the battle 

 was over and his dark body, with the throat 



