72 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. III. 



preaching danger; a habit, in fact, belonging not 

 merely to all marsupial or pouched quadrupeds, but to 

 certain fishes of the genus Syngnathus, and probably to 

 the opossum shrimps. The common roebuck, with- 

 out having a similar hiding place for her little ones, 

 yet, in moments of danger, carefully conceals them 

 in a thicket, and then suffers herself to h chased.* 

 Monkeys are peculiarly affectionate to their young; 

 they tend and watch them in the most singular man- 

 ner, and appear to pursue a plan both as to their 

 nurture and education. They not only procure every 

 possible comfort for their little ones, but they also pre- 

 serve amongst them a due share of discipline, and seem 

 even to hold them in subjection : they appear to watch 

 their antics with great delight ; but if, while wrestling 

 with each other, they become violent or malicious, 

 immediately springing upon them, seizing their tails 

 with one paw, and administering correction with the 

 other ; nor, if they elude the parent's grasp, will they 

 make any show of rebellion, but rather approach in a 

 wheedling and caressing manner, as if seeking a recon- 

 ciliation, t Lichtenstein observes, that the affection of 

 the African elephants for their young is very great. 

 He had been assured by an old hunter, who witnessed 

 the fact, that the female elephant will take up her 

 wounded calf in her mouth, and run away with it, 

 just as we may suppose a cat is in the habit of doing 

 with her kitten 4 A singular instance of the affection 

 of animals for others of their own kind, is the following : 



The Rev. Mr. S , of M , Denbighshire, 



had a favourite Newfoundland dog, who lived at large, 

 partook of the best of everything, and exercised his 

 power with great mildness. He was seen, more than 

 once, leaping the gate which separated the yard of the 

 house from the farmyard, and carrying large bones, that 

 had been given him, to a sporting dog who was tied up 

 in the stable. 



* Shaw's Zool. vol. iv. p. 294. t Bingley's Anim. Biog. vol. i. p. 87. 

 t Lich Trav D. 214. $ Sheppard's Autumn Dream, p. 17L 



