Year: 1876

AN EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE AT THE
GIANTS CAUsEwAY.


A most remarkable fight was witnessed
| few mornings ago at the Giants Causeway,
between a fox and two ravens The circum-
stances, as witnessed by several persons, are
that REWARD wished to breakfast of the ra-
vens. To effect his purpose it was necessary
for Reynard to have recourse to strategy,and
thereby to make up for the want OF pair OF
wings. He, therefore, with his proverbial
cunning, feigned himself asleep convenient
to putrid carrion lying on the rocks, and
much to the annoyance OF the ravens, who,
doubtless, would have thought his absence
cordial one The ravens, Notwithstanding
the assumed innocence of the fox, watched
his actions with grave suspicious, in conse-
quence of which be was unsuccessful, in sew
eral of bis preparatory movements, to cap
ture one of them. But his intentions being
so manifest, the anger of the ravens was fair
! ly aroused at the selfshness displayed, and
they seemed, by their threatening attitude,
determined to contest the matter inch by
inch.


Waving, therefore, their claims to the
carron, one of them swept round to his head
and the other to his tail. The fox, suspect
ing nothing, was sleeping as before, but the
raven ut his tail smartoned him with pow
ful dab. lie (the fox took as little notice
OF it a. possible, and was again beginning to
enjoy his nap, when another laundering
dab was administered to him by the raven at
his head This time the fox was observed
to vince as if he felt uncomfortable sensa-
tions in his cerebellum, but, after moving
little, he resumed his recumbent position,
apparently in peaceful sumber Nor did he
give up his little game till five or six exper-
iments had been tried upon him. At last,
however, he awoke with a roar of agony, and
| it WAS thought by the unloOkers that the ra-
ven, in its vivisecting operations, had pecSed
the eye cut of him. The fox, now realizing
his position and the true state of affairs, was
forced to act on the defensive, and to ii We
! battle in real earnest At this stage the
anxiety of the spectators became intense,
and the issue of the combat was looked for
with more than ordinary interest. The rat
venS held to the position they had at first
taken up, and while one was haying his tail
with rapid succession of keen strokes, the
one at the head was doing iis utmost to pig
eOn-hOle that organ. OF course, as the fox
snapped at the one that tormented him last,
the ravens acted the better part Of valor and
retreated alternately.


In this manner the warfare was carried on
for over two hours with varying success, at
one time on the side Of the ravens, and anon
in favor of the fox. But, on the whole, the
balance was in favor Of the ravens. as the
fox was much dragged and weakened. New
ertheless it was still matter Of uncertainty
which would gain the victory. The ravens
during this time had continued to carry on
the fight with a tact that would have done


credit 10 more rational beings. The conse.


quent confusion and worry tod plainly on
the fox, seeing that he became more reckless
as the fight waxed hotter, and, "a a necc ssa.


ry consequence, weaker and weaker from re-


peated blows. At this juncture they haC
worked or fought up To the rock on which
! the carrion had been deposited. The ravel
at the enemy's tail had again tickled him
and, after doing so, the one at the head CAV,


him fearful punch, upon which the fo'


turned after him in great fury. The one a


his tail again performed, and, during tn
e passage of the fox after the other raven ,gav
= him sound onward thud, accelerating hi
t speed so much that he lost his balance, an
n tumbled headlong into the water, amid tn
i plaudits of the spectators and the exultn
= croak of the ravens,-Derry (LreIand) Stan
t dard.