po on the instinct of amTTmls. Jan. xZy 



etupkl animal, which is so resolute during a Ihort pe- 

 riod, in defence of her young, abandons them entirely 

 in a few weeks, nor ever afterwards seems to have the 

 smallest attachment to, or even recollection of the:.i. 



Nor is this animal instinct, in favour of their young, 

 peculiarly vivid in those creatures that are of a mild and 

 inoffensive disposition, as we would naturally expect 

 fliould be the case. We might indeed expect that the 

 most ravenous carnivorous animals would be the bold- 

 est, when attacked, in defence of their young •, be- 

 cause this seems congenial to the natural disposition of 

 such animals; but we would not expect that they fhould 

 be strongly affected with grief at their misfortunes, 

 or mourn over them, after their death. The hen is as 

 furious in ilefence of her young as any animal can be ; 

 but when a chicken is once dead, Ihe abandons it with 

 as much seeming unconcern as if it were a clod of clay. 

 Her care extends to its defenc!e only while it is in life, 

 nor does flie seem to be sensible of any pain it may 

 suffer. This is not the case with the bear. The 

 great white bear of Nova Zembla is a carnivorous ani- 

 mal, and one of the most intrepid that is known on the 



globe. 



A itw years since, the crew of a boat belonging to 

 a fliip in the whale fiihery Ihot at a bear, at a fliort dis- 

 tance, and wounded it. The animal immediately set 

 up the most hideous yells, and ran along the ice to- 

 wards tlie boat. Before It reached it, a second shot 

 was fired, and hit it. This served only to encrease its 

 fury. It presently swam to the boat ; and in attempt- 

 ing to get on board, reached its forefoot upon the 

 gunnel ; but one of the crew having a hatchet, cut it 



