THE CONQUEST OF THE DRY LAND 213 



With the increasing need for protecting the 

 young there has grown up an increasing de- 

 gree, not only of parental care, but of parental 

 affection. The highest expression of this is 

 found if we leave the birds out of account 

 among the Mammals, that great class which 

 includes forms so different as Man, the mon- 

 keys, the carnivores, the hoofed animals, the 

 gnawers, besides the aerial bats and the ma- 

 rine whales. All these animals have one great 

 point of resemblance to which they owe their 

 name of Mammal the young are fed for the 

 first period of their lives on the milk of the 

 mother. The period of suckling varies greatly 

 in length. The little harvest-mouse, the small- 

 est but one of our four-footed beasts, makes an 

 egg-shaped nest by splitting stalks of grass or 

 corn and weaving them firmly together. The 

 nest, which usually hangs from a corn-stalk, 

 is lined with soft leaves, and in this comfort- 

 able home the young ones, eight or nine at a 

 birth, are brought forth, and are suckled by 

 the mother. But she only allows them this 

 luxurious life for a week or two till they are 

 able to see and to stand on their own legs. 

 Then, we are told, she takes them out, " gives 

 them a little practical instruction in the art 



