PETERSFIELD.
REMARKABLE AND CURIOUS EPISODE IN NATURAL HISTORY.—A few days ago, a cat belonging to Henry Hearsey, in Steep Marsh, near this town, haring occupied a hen’s nest, for the purpose of bringing forth her progeny very comfortably accomplished the feat. Upon the hen’s returning to take possession of the same for the purpose of incubation, to her great astonishment she found her home thus occupied, and immediately commenced a ‟set to” with pussy, and ultimately drove her away. Having gained her object, she quietly settled down upon the kittens, and a nest egg throughout the night. Mrs. Hearsey upon discovering the circumstance on the following day, proceeded to take the kittens from under the hen, when she boldly pecked, and violently flew at her. for depriving her of the pretty little ‟Rara Avis’s” beneath her wings. Can this episode in natural history be accounted for by nature having endowed the feathered tribe with stronger maternal affection than the feline race.