CHAPTER XXX. 



FOSTER PARENTAGE. 



THE phenomena of foster-parentage offer many interesting 

 illustrations of the mental and moral aptitudes or qualities of 

 the lower animals. The adoption of the young, not only of 

 the same species, but of other species and genera of the most 

 diverse structure and habits, is common under certain cir- 

 cumstances. The most common of these circumstances is 

 the non-gratification of the imperious maternal instinct the 

 same cause that leads so many spinsters of certain age to con- 

 sole their idleness with pet dogs, cats or birds, or so many 

 childless couples to adopt children in order to gratify their 

 parental longings and inherit their wealth. It is, therefore, 

 usually the female that becomes a foster-parent, and takes 

 home to her affections, and to her board, the young of her 

 neighbours, and failing them, or otherwise by singularity of 

 preference, the offspring of other species or genera. There 

 are many instances of hens hatching ducks' eggs and bring- 

 ing up broods of ducklings, of geese tending ducklings, of 

 cats nursing each other's kittens, and of a whole host of 

 other birds hatching the eggs of the cuckoo. But much more 

 interesting are such cases as the following : 



1. Cats and bitches suckling each other's whelps 

 (Houzeau) . 



2. Cats suckling or bringing up young squirrels, dog- 

 pups, chickens, rats, and leverets or young hares all their 

 natural prey or enemies (White). 



3. Bitches suckling young pigs, kittens, or panther-cubs 

 (Jesse and Jardine). 



4. Hens rearing kittens, of which an instance has been 



