Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-06-08
,Frors the Nep Esgiand Galory.,

singular Facts in Natural EiSiOry-The most
con;boh and powerful OF all the natural dispositions
of animals is that Of affection for their yolsng This
even considered greater in Features onIy
instinct, Than in The human species--Ihe ancirmt
Greek writers on Natural History denoted This strong
propensity ia beasts ny the Sf0rce which later
authors nave sometaies used to also the
human paTenls for their children, PARTICULAR,
that which protects pTovdss for and their
helpless infancy The following remarkable Instances
OF deviation from this instructive attachment To off
are thought worthy OF record. '
In the year 1915. Mr. Richard Dexter of Maiden
grey squirrel. AZ De perceived mat II WAS mother
he looked round TO ind the place where she had kepi
her Young Discovering a ho!e IN Tree, he climbed
10 u, and iook thence six little ones, which weT. Oh,
baby but few days old they without hair aud
Their eyes uoi yet open HE brought Them home. and
gave one OF them TO cat, suppOsing hat bhe would
Immediately devour II AS she did not aud is the ca,
had lately k!tiensd and had all her young taken from
her but one he had the curiosity 10 try heih,r sb
would nurse the squirrels Accordingly he applied one
of them to teat and nnding that ,ncked he placed
the Others By little attention to hese new nursugs
the cat was soon induced adnp them. In fact sbr
actually bionght Them up together with her surviving
kitten She even discovered preference 10 them and
when they Climbed upon the beams OF the garrett and
their safety. Obsdeut Ia her call however they w,nId
come 10 her place themselves by her sde their
long bushy tails over the backs, anu appear pleased
with her pnTrng aud With the play ulness their Kit
ten mate What ssiil more singular, they learned 10
NEW like car
When lucy had grown up, though perfectly gent.
anu accustomed 10 the fordngs OF the members of lie
family, about whom they would Rambo aud on yhos.
shoulders they would climb, yet they beesIns Sc noisy
and Troublesome thar Nh. sexter parted With four Of
Ihem:-Thc tive thai he retained lie ksp. IN cage
one Gag child inadvertently gave them cheese
ccrd TO eat, which ocoasoHed their death.
III March last, nT. Dexter Killed fox; and as his
dog had discOyeTedlhe bnuow be determined 10 omen
IL After digging several feet, he fnund q small clib
PeTceiVng that the hole extended further he CONTINUED
!" dg III he came to the litter in which more
he carred item home. One wac injured by the SPADE
ana dIen OF tie wound. The other two be felt DESTROYS
OF rearing mp II possible; and, reneDe ring his sue
cess With the squTI els pnt them cat IA descendant
OF toe former oDs) wbo had also been deprived of ali
her keDs nut one. lie prevailed on the cat to nurse
tue little cHhS but for several daJS II MADE her yefy
sick, panty itOn their eageTness aud paiy II IL aug
posed, from EeiT siIODg scehi. But she recovered
sue veIJ Willingly adopted them, aud has become ~
Ionn Of ihem as OF her own Kitten. aud indeed appar
entY more so.
On Tie 23d instant, the writer Of this saw tie cat
WIN the Kitten and two young foxes and was highly
amused With their mutual attachment aud pa yiulues
The cat appeared To be Jealous how ever al tue aiten
lion pdid by stranger 10 Tho liiye foxes watched
the opportunity OF carrying Them auo them
down cellar.
Having heard from tue family detail Vt particulars
some Of which wIOtr deHn iu their presence thought
that these sinsnlar Hsrdsces Of ielpe aatiun were
suucenHy cuiioas to be made article record aud
here snbm tbeu TO the Uce. Of the levers Of natural
history.
Dorchester, liaSS. ApriI &C, 1919.