A FOX OUTWITTED.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 148, 9 September 1876, Page 3

A FOX OUTWITTED.

The Giant’s Causeway, says the Deny ('lreland) Standard, a short time since was the scene of a combat of the most extraor'dinary nature. Some carrion bad been deposited on the rocks near the sea, and a fox, evidently with the intention of making p, meal off one or two ravens which had been attracted to the spot by the putrid meat, curled himself up apparently asleep, '(close to the carrion. The ravens, however, Regarded him with suspicion for some time, and finding that Eeynard was not likely to sheer off, and probably unable longer to withstand the effects of what to them was a grateful and seductive aroma, they, by their threatening attitudes, left little doubt in the minds of the numerous spectators that they intended to bring matters to an issue. The two old ravens eventually advanced, and one of them took his stand at Eoynard’s head and the other at his tail. The latter led the attack by assaulting Eoynard’s brush, the other immediately afterwards following suit by a powerful tap on the head. Eeynard feigned indifference to these polite attentions during a few rounds, trusting, no doubt, that his persecutors would become emboldened and indiscreet, and, at the same time, place themselves within his reach. Indiscretion however, is not a ptominent characteristic of the corvus family, and, after a few more applications alternate!}' on the head and tail, the position became uncomfortable, and the fox began to show fight ; but the ravens followed up the assault, first snapping atone end then the other. It is stated tbattlKAwarfare was carried on for more thanywo hours in this way, and on the whole, the balance was against the fox, which, in the words of our contemporary, “ was much draggled and weakened but became more reckless as the fight waxed hotter. At this juncture they had worked or fought up to tho edge of the rock (n which the carrion had been deposited. Tho raven at the enemy’s tail again tickled him and after doing so, the one at the head gave him a fearful pinch, upon which the fox turned upon him in great fury. The one at the tail again performed, and during the passage of the fox after the other raven, gave him a sound outward thud, accelerating his speed so much that he lost his balance and tumbled headlong into the water, amid the plaudits of the spectators and the exultiug croaks of tho ravens.”