224 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



strong birds are having a tussle ; one has the advan- 

 tage now, but the. next minute the other regains 

 her lost ground. It seems as though the hen 

 attacked has committed an illegal offence by sitting 

 in another's nest, and the rightful occupier is en- 

 deavouring to drive or pull her off. It is an exciting 

 combat ; the one on the nest holds on, although the 

 other pulls and tugs at her beak. Who will win is 

 the question. The birds around seem to be taking 

 an interest in the battle ; for they not only look on, 

 but open their beaks to their very widest extent and 

 send forth loud cries often repeated. Another gannet 

 then flies towards them, misses his foothold, and 

 circles round to regain the balance he has lost. Then 

 he settles, and also gives out a loud, angry call ; and 

 then without more ado he marches up to the com- 

 batants and actually takes a firm grasp with his 

 beak of the tail of the bird which is standing over 

 the nest. The latter is now between two fires, and 

 evidently hardly knows what to do. What can she 

 do ? Both back and front, or as a sailor would 

 put it, stern and bows, are held fast by two deter- 

 mined foes. These are probably the feathered couple 

 to which that particular nest containing its one egg 

 belongs, which the stranger so gallantly tries to 

 protect. Now she tries to escape, but finds this 

 to be impossible. The real fun now commences. 

 One bird pulls one way and one the other, so that 



