36 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
servation of her own life and that of the remaining children, 
the poor, frantic creature now took one of her babes, and 
cast it a prey to her blood-thirsty pursuers. This stopped 
their career for a moment; but, after devouring the little 
innocent, they renewed the pursuit, and a second time came 
■up with the vehicle. The mother, driven to desperation, 
resorted to the same horrible expedient, and threw her fero- 
cious assailants another of her offspring. To cut short this 
melancholy story, her third child was sacrificed in a similar 
manner. 
Soon after this, the wretched being, whose feelings may 
more easily be conceived than described, reached her home 
in safety. Here she related what had happened, and en- 
deavoured to palliate her own conduct, by describing the 
dreadful alternative to which she had been reduced. A 
peasant, however, who was among the by-standers, and 
heard the recital, took up an axe, and with one blow cleft 
her skull in two; saying, at the same time, that a mother 
who could thus sacrifice her children for the preservation 
of her own life, was no longer fit to live. 
This man was committed to prison, but the Emperor 
subsequently gave him a pardon. 
This gentleman related to me another curious circum- 
stance regarding Wolves: it happened at no great distance 
from St. Petersburg, only two years previously. 
A peasant, when one day in his sledge, was pursued by 
eleven of these ferocious animals: at this time, he was only 
about two miles from home, towards which he urged his 
horse at the very top of his speed. At the entrance to his 
residence was a gate, which happened to be closed at the 
time; but the horse dashed this open, and thus himself and 
his master found refuge within the court-yard. 
They wei’e followed, however, by nine out of the eleven 
Wolves; but, very fortunately, at the instant these had 
tentered the enclosure, the gate swung back on its hinges, 
and thus they were caught as in a trap. From being the 
most voracious of animals, the nature of these beasts, now 
that they found escape impossible, became completely 
changed: so far, indeed, from offering molestation to any 
one, they slunk into holes and corners, and allowed them- 
selves to be slaughtered almost without making resistance. 
It is said, that the mere act of striking a light with flint 
and steel, has often the effect of intimidating a Wolf; and 
that the rattling of a chain not unfrequently answers the 
like purpose. In the event of a person, when unarmed, 
being attacked by these blood-thirsty brutes, these things 
are worth knowing; for, though apparently trifling in them- 
selves, they might be the means of saving his life. 
In some parts of Scandinavia, when people are travelling 
during the winter-time over extended plains, lakes, &c. 
which are known to be much frequented by Wolves, it is 
the custom to attach a long rope to the back of the sledge; 
the serpentine motion that this makes, when the vehicle is 
proceeding, has, it is said, the effect of deterring these ani- 
mals from making their attacks. — Lloyd’s Field Sports. 
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC UPON MICE. 
The following anecdote of the influence of music 
upon a Mouse, is related by Dr. Archer, of Norfolk. 
“On a rainy evening in the winter of 1815,” says this gen- 
tleman, “ as I was alone in my chamber, I took up my flute, 
and commenced playing. In a few minutes my attention 
was directed to a mouse that I saw creeping from a hole, 
and advancing towards the chair I was sitting in; I ceased 
playing, and it ran precipitately back to its hole: I began 
again shortly afterwards, and was much surprised to see it 
re-appear, and take its old position. The appearance of the 
little animal was truly delightful — it couched itself on the 
floor, shut its eyes, and appeared to be in ecstasy: I ceased 
playing, and it instantly disappeared again. This experi- 
ment I repeated frequently, with the same success, observ- 
ing that it was always differently affected, as the music va- 
ried from the slow and plaintive to the brisk or lively. 
It finally went off, and all my art could not entice it to 
return.” 
A more remarkable instance of this fact was recently in- 
serted in the Philadelphia Medical and Physical Journal, 
communicated by Dr. Cramer, of Jefferson county. The 
circumstance, he says, was related to him by a gentleman 
of undoubted veracity. 
“ One evening in the month of December, as a few offi- 
cers on board a British man of war, in the harbour of Ports- 
mouth, were seated round the fire, one of them began to 
play a plaintive air on the violin. He had scarcely per- 
formed ten minutes, when a mouse, apparently frantic, 
made its appearance in the centre of the floor, near the 
large table which usually stands in the ward room. The 
strange gestures of the little animal strongly excited the 
attention of the officers, who, with one consent, resolved to 
suffer it to continue its singular actions unmolested. Its 
exertions now appeared to be greater every moment — it 
shook its head, leaped about the table, and exhibited signs 
of the most extatic delight. It was observed, that in pro- 
portion to the gradation of the tones to the soft point, the 
feelings of the animal appeared to be increased, and vice 
versa. After performing actions, which an animal so di- 
minutive would at first sight seem incapable of, the little 
creature, to the astonishment of the delighted spectators, 
suddenly ceased to move, fell down, and expired, without 
evincing any symptoms of pain.” — Sport. Mag. 
