The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-29
THE CHIvALRY OF ANIMALS.
Examples of Their Tenderness Toward
All Animal Young.

Examples of Their Tenderness Toward
| All Animal Young.
| BY far the most effective means OF
bringing birds about you for the pur-
pose of cultivatingN their acquaintance
after you have settled yourself, field
glass in hand, with your back against
a tree-trunk is to place your lips to the
back of your hand in the kissing posi-
ton and such In the air vigorously
| while keeping them firmly pressed, this
giving rise to a half squeaking, half
| whistling sound that closely resembles
| the cry Of young bird in distress. 1t
Is astonishing howfS quickly this will
sometimes cause an apparently deserted
| thicket to become fairly alive with
| birds, all in a state of anxious excite
ment.
The attitude of dogs and other do
nestle animals toward the babies or
children of the family to which they
belong, and which they probably re-
gard as adopted into their own family
cirlce, is a familiar illustration of this
same feeling. Nor is this simply a
matter of affection for the particular
impersonal and, If we might use the
term, abstract character is something
most curiously shown.
One of my brothers, when a young
man, owned a handsome Newfoundland,
answering to the name of Skukkum, the
same being Chinook Indian for good
and amply deserved. When my broth
err married, Skukkum was graciously
pleased to approve of his choice, and
extended courteous but distinctly con-
descending friendship to the new mem
Der of his family, evidently thinking
that perhaps, after ALL three might be
company in spite of the proverb. But
he drew the line at four, and when the
first baby came his courtesy gave away.
He not only absolutely refused to come
and look at the little tot, and be intro
duced to the new member Of the family,
but If it was brought into the room
would instantly either leave it or march
off to the farthest corner and lie down
with an air of offended dignity.
And yet the moment the baby was
placed in his perambulator and started
out through the garden gate, for a con-
stitutional down the street, Skukkum
would promptly range. up alongside Of
the carriage, and escort if through the
entire trip, keeping most vigilant eye
upon any stranger, canine, or human,
who ventured to approach his charge
without cordial greeting from the
nureemad. The minute however, that
the gate was safely reached again, he
considered his duty done and relapsed
at once into his former attitude of jeal-
bus contempt.
He evidently felt that, no matter how
much he might disprove of the baby
personally, and even feel free to express
this feeling within the privacy of the
family circle, yet the youngster was,
nevertheless, de jure member of the
family and entitled not merely to de-
ferse, but to respectful attention before
the eye of the outside world AS the
baby grew older he soon same to like
him for his own sake, and they were
the best of friends,
The broad and beautiful eatholcity of
the maternal instinct in animals throw
ing the mantle of protection over even
the young of their legitimate prey, may
also be claimed as a sort of female
Nor, fortunately is there need
to multiply instances of it, as it has ats
tracted affectionate admiration from ties
dawn of history.
l have known young squirrels, yC eides
rabbits, and even young chic before
adopted for longer or shorter peri
mother cats, and every collection