FROM THE "SPECTATOR* 215 



SOME FACTS OF MATERNAL IN- 

 STINCT IN ANIMALS. 



{Oct. i, 1892.] 



I LATELY met some friends who had with 

 them a little dog, called Vic, who had adopted 

 the family of a cat in the house, and, while 

 in possession, would not let the mother come 

 near her kittens. The kittens were kept in 

 a very tall basket, and Vic would take them 

 in her mouth, and jump out with them one 

 by one, and then carry them into the garden 

 and watch over them, carrying them back in 

 the same way after a time ; at other times, 

 lying contentedly with them in the basket. 

 Of course Vic had to be forcibly removed 

 when the adopted family required their 

 mother's attention for their sustenance. I 

 also have met a friend who saw a hen-hawk, 

 who was in a cage, mothering a young 

 starling. Three young, unfledged starlings 

 were given the hawk to eat. She ate two, 

 and then broodled the other, and took the 

 utmost care of it. Unhappily, the young 

 starling died ; and from that moment the 



