106 The Naturalist in La Plata. 



Leaving it, she returned a second time, in the same 

 cautious manner, and taking another, ran with it to 

 the same spot, and concealed it along with the first. 

 It was curious that the first young mouse had 

 continued squealing after being hidden by the 

 mother, for I could hear it distinctly, the air being 

 very still, but when the second mouse had been 

 placed with it, the squealing ceased. A third time 

 the old mouse came, and then instead of going to 

 the same spot, as I had expected, she ran off in an 

 opposite direction and disappeared among the dry 

 weeds ; a fourth was carried to the same place as 

 the third ; and in this way they were all removed 

 to a distance of some yards from the nest, and 

 placed in couples, until the last and odd one 

 remained. In due time she came for it, and ran 

 away with it in a new direction, and was soon out 

 of sight ; and although I waited fully ten minutes, 

 she did not return ; nor could I afterwards find any 

 of the young mice when I looked for them, or even 

 hear them squeal. 



I have frequently observed newly-born lambs on 

 the pampas, and have never failed to be surprised 

 at the extreme imbecility they display in their 

 actions ; although this may be due partly to 

 inherited degeneracy caused by domestication. 

 This imbecile condition continues for two, some- 

 times for three days, during which time the lamb 

 apparently acts purely from instincts, which are far 

 from perfect ; but after that, experience and its 

 dam teach it a better way. When born its first 

 impulse is to struggle up on to its feet ; its second 



