Parental and Early Instincts. 1 1 1 



itself in a hollow in the ground or among the long 

 grass, lying down very close with neck stretched 

 out horizontally, and will thus remain until sought 

 by the dam. When very young if found in its 

 hiding-place it will allow itself to be taken, making 

 no further effort to escape. After the fawn has 

 run away the doe still maintains her statuesque 

 attitude, as if resolved to await the onset, and 

 only when the dogs are close to her she also rushes 

 away, but invariably in a direction as nearly 

 opposite to that taken by the fawn as possible. At 

 first she runs slowly, with a limping gait, and fre- 

 quently pausing, as if to entice her enemies on, like 

 a partridge, duck or plover when driven from its 

 young ; but as they begin to press her more closely 

 her speed increases, becoming greater the further 

 she succeeds in leading them from the starting- 

 point. 



The alarm-cry of this deer is a peculiar whistling 

 bark, a low but far-reaching sound ; but when 

 approaching a doe with young I have never been 

 able to hear it, nor have I seen any movement on 

 the part of the doe. Yet it is clear that in some 

 mysterious way she inspires the fawn with sudden 

 violent fear ; while the fawn, on its side, instead of 

 being affected like the young in other mammals, 

 and sticking closer to its mother, acts in a contrary 

 way, and runs from her. 



Of the birds I am acquainted with, the beautiful 

 jacana (Parra jacana) appears to come into the 

 world with its faculties and powers in the most 

 advanced state. It is, in fact, ready to begin active 



