THE DOE AND HER FAWN. 53 



almost similar circumstances. I have watched a 

 little feeble bird on a lawn, which some accident 

 or disorder has rendered weaker than the other 

 nestlings, receiving the constant attentions of its 

 mother, who hovered near it, and evidently brought 

 food to it oftener than she did to her other young 

 ones. I have noticed the same in a weakly fawn. 

 When I resided on the border of Bushy Park, I had 

 many opportunities of observing this, and other in- 

 stances of the great affection which exists between a 

 doe and her fawn. The latter when very young, 

 hides itself amongst the fern, but on hearing the 

 peculiar bleat of the dam, recognized from amongst 

 many others, it quits its retreat, and is in an 

 instant by her side. A scene of mutual affection 

 then takes place. The fawn rubs its head against 

 the shoulder of its mother. The mother licks the 

 fawn, then satisfies its hunger, and turns round 

 and looks at it with an affection which cannot 

 be mistaken. 



Throughout nearly the whole of the animal 

 creation, the care of rearing, feeding and protect- 

 ing the young devolves on the female. She it is 

 who hatches the young brood, and fosters them 

 under her wings. In some cases, her indefati- 

 gable exertions procure the necessary supply of 

 food. In others her milk nourishes them ; but 

 the same love and affection is to be found in 

 all. The Whale, amidst its agonies of pain and 



