SEVENTH WEEK-WEDNESDAY.

REPRODUCTION OF QUADRUPEDS—THE LION-THE RABBIT.

Ir is unnecessary to dwell at any length on the reproductive instincts of quadrupeds, as the great principles by which such instincts are guided, have already amply appeared in considering those natural faculties, as exhibited among the feathered tribes, where peculiar circumstances require them to be more complicated and more perfect. A slight notice, however, seems to be called for.

The chief difference in the manner of reproduction between birds and beasts, is, that the latter, instead of producing by means of eggs, are viviparous; or, in other words, they bring forth their young alive, and fully formed. Another provision is united with this, the adaptation of which to the peculiar circumstances of quadrupeds, is also admirable, with relation to the case both of the mother and her offspring; I mean the supply of milk from the udder of the female, a secreted fluid, prepared by the profoundest alchymy, for the nourishment of the progeny, in the earlier stage of their existence. These two differences render the cares of the parent less numerous and burdensome. There is neither a nest to prepare, nor food to gather for the young; the Author of their nature has already provided both. Now, we observe a corresponding difference, adjusted, with singular intelligence, to these modifications. The male, among quadrupeds, never performs so important a part in the rearing of the young, as among birds. Frequently, indeed, he is altogether ignorant of the paternal feelings. It is not necessary, for the welfare of the species, that this natural affection should exist in ordinary cases, and especially among gregarious beasts; and, except where it is necessary, it has not been bestowed. The sheep, the cow, the dog in its wild state, and various others, are instances of gregarious quadrupeds, the males of which are altogether destitute of the parental instincts.

There are other kinds of beasts, however, who pair, and in whom these instincts are sufficiently conspicuous. This is constantly the case with beasts of prey. These have to seek their food at a distance, encountering much toil, and sometimes imminent danger. It was expedient, therefore, that the male should be the associate and provider of the female, while tending their mutual offspring. Let us take an example, in the noblest of the brute creation, the imperial lion.

This royal animal is constant to one female. They lie in the same thicket or den; they partake of the same prey; and when they have young, they are animated by the same feverish excitement. Even when fierce and irritable to all others, the lion is mild and gentle to the female. That he is susceptible, indeed, of kindly and generous feelings, even to animals of a different species, has been proved by the attachments which have been known to subsist between this formidable animal, in a state of confinement, and creatures which have been thrown into his den to be devoured; and the same thing may probably be inferred from his tractability and gentleness in the hands of his keeper. But it is towards the lioness and her cubs that his affections are peculiarly alive; and some interesting stories have been recorded, indicating the tender feelings towards them, with which the Creator has endowed him. In this animal, indeed, all the passions, even those of the most gentle kind, are in ex

cess.

The lioness, though naturally less strong, less courageous, and less mischievous than the lion, becomes terrible when she has young ones to provide fór. She then makes her incursions with more intrepidity than the lion, himself; she throws herself indiscriminately among animals of all kinds, and even man, whom, in her ordinary state, she is shy of attacking, becomes the object of her fury. She destroys without distinction; loads herself with the spoil, and brings it home reeking to her cubs, whom she early accustoms to delight in slaughter. She bears only once in the year, generally bringing forth two at a time, though sometimes more. Her lair is in the

most retired and inaccessible places; and, when she fears to have her place of retreat discovered, she is said, how truly I do not know, to hide her tracks by brushing them out with her tail. When her apprehensions are strong, she shifts her habitation, carrying the young, if newly dropped, one by one in her mouth, like the dog or cat. If attacked when performing the maternal duties, she fights with peculiar fury, defending her offspring with the most determined courage, and a love which no personal danger can shake.

Such is the account given by naturalists of this most formidable of the brute creation. It exhibits the parental and conjugal affections not less strong in this tremendous quadruped, than in the interesting tribes which skim the air, and teaches us that the Creator has implanted, even in the fiercest brutes, the same kind of instincts as in birds, though these are wonderfully modified so as to adapt them to the circumstances of each.

I shall contrast the habits of the lion with those of one of the most peaceful and defenceless of the quadruped race, in its natural and untamed state. The rabbit shall be my example. This animal, destitute of the swiftness of the hare, and the cunning of the fox, and the agility of the squirrel, has but one means of escape from danger; he burrows beneath the ground. When the necessity of procuring food, and the love which he seems instinctively to feel for the open air, tempt him to go abroad, he becomes the prey of every carnivorous animal; and the race, apparently created to be the food of the fox, the kite, and the eagle, would soon become extinct, were it not for its extraordinary fecundity. This property I noticed in the Winter' volume. It is so great as amply to compensate to the race for the defencelessness of their nature, and is one of those provisions of Creative Wisdom, by which the balance of creation is preserved.

The female prefers solitude during the period of production; and, as the holes in which the rabbits usually burrow, are common property, she frequently provides a nest for herself, on the outside of the warren, and at some distance from it, excavated about a foot deep, and filled

with moss and grass. Here she suckles her young for about a month, generally alone, but sometimes visited by the male, who, though he would devour them, when newly dropped, occasionally attends their mutual offspring, after they are grown up, nursing them in her place, when she is procuring her own food, and leading them out to feed. It is most usual, however, for the female to produce her young within the warren; but in a separate apartment, made with a more intricate entry than the ordinary holes, at the bottom of which a sufficient space is excavated. Here she pulls off from her breast a good quantity of her hair, with which she makes a kind of bed for her young. During the two first days after their birth, she never leaves them, and does not stir out even afterwards, except to procure nourishment, which she snatches with the utmost despatch. In this manner, she suckles her young for six weeks, at which time they have become strong, and able to go abroad themselves. During all this time, the male seldom visits the apartment; but, when they are grown up, so as to come to the mouth of the hole, he then seems to acknowledge them as his offspring, takes them between his paws, smooths their skin, and licks their eyes. All of them, one after another, have an equal share of his caresses.

These specimens, taken from two very different tribes of animals, may suffice to show that peculiar modification of the reproductive instincts, by which the Creator has admirably accommodated them to the circumstances of the animals endowed with them, thus affording, in this department of his works, additional evidence of Divine skill and benevolent contrivance.

* It is probably from jealousy of the female's affection for the young, that the buck shows enmity to their offspring.

SEVENTH WEEK-THURSDAY.

REPRODUCTION OF QUADRUPEDS.-INSTINCTS OF the young.

THERE is a curious experiment, made by Galen, which Mr. Ray has copied from his narrative, illustrative of the instinctive habits of the young of brutes. It is as follows, with some abridgement, in the words of Mr. Ray's translation: -"Nature, forming, fashioning, and perfecting the parts of the body, hath so brought it to pass, that they should, of themselves, without any teaching, set about, and perform, their proper actions; and of this, I once made a great experiment, bringing up a kid without its ever seeing its dam. Snatching it away, as soon as it was born, I brought it into a certain room, having many vessels full, some of wine, some of oil, some of honey, some of milk, or some other liquor; and others, not a few, filled with all sorts of grain, as also with several fruits; and there I laid it. This young one we saw getting up upon its feet, and walking, as if it had heard that its legs were given it for that purpose; and, moreover, scratching its side with one of its feet. Then we saw it smelling of every one of those things that were set in the room; and, when it had smelt of them all, it supped up the milk; whereupon we all, for admiration, cried out, seeing clearly the truth of what Hippocrates saith, that the nature and actions of animals are not taught, but by instinct. upon I nourished and reared this kid, and observed it afterwards, not only to lap milk, but some other things that stood by it; and, after some two months, were Drought unto it, the tender sprouts of herbs and plants; and it again, smelling of them all, instantly refused some, but was pleased to taste others; and, after it had tasted, began to eat of such as are the usual food of goats.

Here

"Perchance this may seem a small thing; but what I shall now relate is great; for, eating the leaves and tender sprouts, it swallowed them down, and then, a while after, it began to chew the cud, at which, all that saw it, cried