i 4 THE SOUTHERN CLIFFS 



and receiving from time to time supplies of fish from 

 the parent birds, which were diving near the shore. A 

 larger fish than usual was brought by the birds, and 

 laid upon the rock at the feet of the young one, which, 

 having well breakfasted, was apparently unable to 

 swallow any more, and sat looking at the fish as if 

 contemplating how long it would take to get up 

 enough appetite to eat it. The ravens also saw the 

 fish, and at once flew down on to the rock. Their 

 method of robbery was, no doubt, in accordance with 

 some unwritten law of the cliff colony ; but unlike 

 that which most birds adopt when they are dealing 

 with a weaker, and, as in this case, quite defenceless 

 neighbour. It would have been easy to make a dash 

 at the fish, and fly off with it at once. But for some 

 reason they did not choose to do so. The ravens, after 

 a short croaking conversation, sidled up on one side of 

 the cormorant, until all three birds were in a line, their 

 shoulders touching. The ravens then proceeded to 

 edge down upon the cormorant, gradually shoving it 

 away from the fish, and towards the edge of the rock, 

 all in a very gentle, friendly manner, with no appear- 

 ance of force. The cormorant then shuffled in front 

 of its fish, and turning round, set its sloping back 

 towards the ravens, who found that as they pushed the 

 bird, they only upset it on to the coveted morsel, on 

 which it lay sprawling. As this did not answer, the 

 ravens separated, and sat one on each side of the 

 cormorant ; one then gave it a push, while the other 

 neatly picked up the fish, and both flew off with it to 



