NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Instance of maternal courage. 



my, who, to defend itself, let full the prize; the 

 battle presently became seemingly dreadful to 

 both parties ; for the hawk, by the power of his 

 wings, the sharpness of his talons, and the keen- 

 ness of his beak, had, for a \vhile, the advantage, 

 cruelly lacerating the poor cat, and had actually 

 deprived her of one eye in the conflict; but puss, 

 no way daunted at the accident, strove with all 

 her cunning and agility for her little ones, till 

 she had broken the wing of her adversary: in 

 this state she got him more within the power of 

 her claws, the hawk still defending himself, appa- 

 rently with additional vigour, and the fight con- 

 tinued with equal fury on the side of grimalkin, 

 to the great entertainment of many spectators. 

 At length victory seemed to favour the nearly 

 exhausted mother, and she availed herself of the 

 advantage; for, by an instantaneous exertion she 

 laid the hawk motionless beneath her feet, and, as 

 if exulting in the victory, tore off the head of the 

 vanquished tyrant; and immediately, disregard- 

 ing the loss of her eye, ran to the bleeding kitr 

 ten, licked the wounds inflicted by the hawk's ta- 

 lons in its tender sides, purring while she cares- 

 sed her liberated offspring, with the same mater- 

 nal affection as if no danger had assailed 

 pr their affectionate parent. 



" Ah ! wanton cruelty, thine hand withold, 

 And learn to pity from the tale that's told: 

 C ;res:> Felina, lor in her we find 

 A grand example to instruct mankind 

 Who leaves her young unguarded, or unfed, 

 Has far less virtue than this quadruped." 



