THE BABBIT. 



event happens we may depend that the Gh-eat Mother hat> been 

 wantonly or designedly thwarted in her designs. We have 

 abundant evidence of this, but more especiaJly in the dog. 

 When, to suit the monstrous whims of " fanciers," canine crea- 

 tures are encouraged in the production of fantastic abortions — 

 wonderful either for dwarfishness, or baldness, or hairiness — 

 the mother will invariably be inclined to neglect and refuse to 

 maintain the most absolute specimen of ugliness in the litter. 

 " The debilitated hope of particular litters," says Dr. Mayhew, 

 •' comes off but badly ; it is pushed aside by its brothers and 

 sisters, whose vigorous greediness seems to endear them to their 

 mother. For the boisterous gluttons she will accommodate her 

 position, and fondly Uck them for their energetic appetites; but to 

 the poor sickly thing she has given Ufe to, she lends no assistance 

 and bestows no attention. She seems to be ashamed of, and 

 disgusted with, its degeneracy ; and while the others grow fat 

 and sleek from positive repletion, it becomes thin and dirty 

 from actual starvation. Where it is desirable to rear the 

 smallest of the litter, the mother must frequently be held, in 

 order that the little thing may suck her." 



A doe's first meal after kindling should consist of a gmel 

 made of barley-meal and milk. According to no less an 

 authority than Mr. Mowbray, should the doe exhibit extreme 

 weakness after the litter has made its appearance, or happen 

 to catch cold, " she will drink beer-caudle as well as any other 

 lady," or warm fresh grains will comfort her, as will a mash, 

 composed of scalded fine pollard or barley -meal, and in which 

 is mixed a small quantity of cordial horse-baU. 



Babbits, it is well known, will occasionally so far seem to 

 forget their nature as to devour their progeny, and tliis failing 

 has been ascribed to various causes. It has been said that 

 fright will so operate on the doe as to induce her to become a 

 cannibal. One naturalist speculates on the probability of the 

 nnimal's brain becoming deranged at the birth of her ■ young 

 ones, and that on the ground of insanity she is irresponsible for 

 her acts. The most favourite and modem theory, however, is 

 that the tiny creatures are devoured that the motlier may 

 assuage her raging thirst. Mr. Mayhew, the celebrated veteri- 

 nary surgeon, gives the following evidence in support of this 

 'theory : — " A doe was sold to me very cheap, and was in litter 

 at the time of purchase. A week after she came into my pos- 

 jsession, she plucked her fur and made her bed. One morning 

 J[ distinctly saw a nest full of young ; but looking again at noon. 



