24.3 



on a* sudden he altered his direction, and des- 

 cended hurriedly, as if in the act of pouncing ; in 

 a moment five or six of the skua passed over my 

 head with an astonishing rapidity ; their wings 

 partly closed and perfectly steady, without the 

 slightest waver or irregularity. They appeared, 

 when cleaving the air, like small fragments of 

 broken rock, torn and tossed by a hurricane 

 from the summit of a towering cliff, until, losing 

 the power that supported them, they fell prone 

 to the sea beneath. The gulls soon came up 

 with him, as their descent was very rapid, arid 

 a desperate engagement ensued. The short bark 

 of the eagle was clearly discernible above the 

 scarcely distinguishable cry of the skua, who 

 never ventured to attack his enemy in front ; 

 but, taking a short circle around him, until his 

 head and tail were in a direct line, the gull made 

 a desperate sweep or stoop, and, striking the 

 eagle on the back, he darted up again almost 

 perpendicular ; when, falling into the rear, he 

 resumed his cowardly attack. Three or four of 

 these birds, thus passing in quick succession, in- 

 variably succeed in harrassing the eagle most un- 

 mercifully. If, however, he turns his head pre- 

 viously to the bird's striking, the gull quickly 

 ascends without touching him. This engage- 

 ment continued some time, the eagle wheeling 

 and turning as quickly as his ponderous wings 

 would allow,, until I lost the combatants in the 

 rocks. As soon as this is the case, the gulls 

 leave, and quietly return to the mountain." 



