148 Chapter IV. 



they had never belonged together. This is a genenal 

 lazv of nature, ascertained by science throughout the 

 whole animal kingdom, setting at naught all the fine 

 phrases and sentimental talk of Brehm on marital and 

 parental love among animals. And this gush, the 

 outcome of erroneous notions and misplaced sentiment 

 is dubbed by thousands of its votaries modern animal 

 psychology ! 



Care of the young in its most primitive form is 

 found among the Echinoderms, namely in a few spe- 

 cies of star-fishes (Asterias Muelleri, rugispina, Cri- 

 hrella ociilata)} According to Perrier the female ani- 

 mal, by bringing her arms near to the body, forms 

 a kind of breeding cavity, in which the young, hud- 

 dling together, are enclosed. In the diflferent classes 

 between the Echinoderms and the vertebrates care of 

 the young assumes very different forms, which we are 

 unable to discuss here. Of peculiar psychological 

 interest, however, are those animals, among whom the 

 males and not the females are entrusted with the care 

 of building nests and rearing the young. The best- 

 known example of this kind among fishes is the 

 stickle-back (Gasterosteus aculeatus).^ In this species 

 the females are regular "cannibal stepmothers," 

 whereas the males are models of "affectionate fath- 

 ers." How ridiculous such facts are, when couched 



*) .See H. Ludwig, "Sitzungsber. der Niederrh. Gesellsch. fuer 

 Naturk." (Bonn), 1896, 1st .half, p. 104; besides in "Zoolog. Anzeiger," 

 1897, No. 534, p. 217 and No. 535, p. 237. 



2) Also among amphibias cases of male hatching have been ascer- 

 tained. See Fr. Werner in "Verhandl. der Zoolog.-botan. Gesellsch. 

 von Wien," 1898, 1st issue, p. 11 ff. See also R. Wiedersheim, 

 "Brutpflege bei niederen Wirbelthieren" (Biolog. Centralbl. XX, 1900, 

 Nos. 9 and 10). 



