224 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



A LAMB WITH TWO MOTHERS. 



A somewhat curious case of sheep maternity, display- 

 ing instincts of the cross purposes kind, occurred in my 

 flock during the past year. About the middle of March, a 

 young ewe of the Welsh mountain breed — a yearling, and 

 quite black — gave birth to a ram lamb of the same colour. 

 As the yeaning came off in a corner of the pasture field 

 shaded with trees, where the ground was damp and cold, 

 I directed my shepherd to remove mother and young to 

 a drier and sunnier spot, about 100 yards distant; 

 which he did, taking up the lamb a few minutes after it 

 was dropped, and by a series of mancBuvres coaxing the 

 dam to follow. She followed, showing great reluctance, 

 however ; and after reaching the new ground, turned and 

 ran back to the place of parturition. This she did re- 

 peatedly, though coaxed away from it again and again, 

 till at length the lamb had to be left there with her. 

 And then occurred the first scene in a chain of incidents, 

 which I think may be pronounced not a little singular. 

 When the lamb, directed by instinct, approached to 

 suckle her, the mother would not allow it ; and, instead 

 of showing the usual solicitude, absolutely repelled it, 

 butting it off whenever it a-ttempted to take hold of the 

 teat. This she did over and over again, and her hostile 

 temper continuing, it became necessary to have her 

 caught and held while the lamb suckled her. To save 

 repeated chasings and catchings, I had her brought into 

 the ornamental grounds by the house, and there tethered j 

 the young one with her, but left loose. On its part there 

 was no lack of filial fondness, though still the unnatural 

 parent refused to give the nourishment due to it, and had 

 to be held every time it suckled her. And held hard. 



