OF NATURAL HISTORY. 279 



felves. This bag they fix to their back, and carry it along 

 with them wherever they go. They are extremely nimble 

 in their motions. But, when the bag is forced from a fpider 

 of this kind, her natural agility forfakes her, and fhe falls 

 into a languid ftate. When the bag is again prefented to her, 

 flie inftantly feizes it, and carries it off with rapidity. The 

 young fpiders no fooner efcape from the eggs than they dex- 

 teroufly arrange themfelves on the back of the mother, who 

 continues for fome time to carry them about with her, and to 

 fupply all their wants. Another fpccies of fpider attaches 

 her bag of eggs to her belly. This fpider is likewife very 

 agile, and fo ferocious and determined in the protection of 

 her eggs, that fhe has been known to fuffer death rather than 

 relinquifti them. The deer fpontaneoufly prefents herfelf 

 to be chafed by the dogs, to prevent them from attacking 

 her fawn. When the fox perceives that her young have 

 been difturbed in her abfence, flie carries them off, one after 

 another, and conceals them in a new retreat. Wafps feed 

 their young, when in the worm or caterpillar ftate, in the fame 

 manner as pigeons and other birds that difgorge. The pigeon, 

 after fv/allowing grain, retains it for fome time in her ftom- 

 ach, till it is foftened and macerated : She then difgorges, 

 and throv/s it into the mouths of her young. « In the fame 

 ' manner,' fays Reaumur, < I have obferved a female wafp 

 « fwallow a large portion of an infect : In a fliort time after- 

 ^ wards, fhe traverfed the different cells of her nefl, difgorg- 

 < ed the contents of her flomach, and diftributed food in this 

 « half digefted form to her young worms*,' 



All animals, man perhaps not excepted, acquire a double 

 portion of force and courage after they bring forth, A cow, 

 at leaft in a domeftic ftate, is a placid and phlegmatic ani- 

 mal : But, whenever flie produces a calf, a wonderful 

 change is exhibited : She inftantly becomes vigilant, active, 

 * Reaumnv, torn, il- page 23c, i^zrao. edit. 



