THE MATERNAL INSTINCT..
[To TEE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] BLE,—The systematic investigation of animal psychology has helped to throw a considerable light upon the mind of man, and the Spectator has always been sympathetic as well as critical in its stories about animal instincts and intelligence. A cat of ours was released from a rabbit-snare in which she had been accidentally caught a few days before her five kittens were born. In consequence of what is to-day fashionably and euphemistically described as " nerve-shock " the kittens were all born dead. The following night the cat went out to the wood adjoining and brought back five baby rabbits, which she attempted to mother, fondling them, licking them, and bring- ing them to herself if they strayed. As a result of rough handling on the journey by the bereaved mother, three of the rabbits died the same day, one died the day after, and the other the following day. It would be interesting to know if the mother (a) could have counted correctly the family of five, and (b) if she could identify the adopted infants; also (c) had they survived would her hunting instincts have secured mice for them to play with. The incident demonstrates the strength of the fundamental " instincts " as forces for pur- posive activity and the emotional pleasure directly associated with their fulfilment, which the reason in this case was probably insufficient to criticize. It justifies, moreover, the academic analysis of mind into component elements, which although in themselves only abstractions, are yet useful to explain actual experiences.—I am, Sir, &c., Clay/ntry. ROBERT ARMSTRONG-JONES, M.D.
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