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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 30 July 1872, Page 3

Strangle Attaohivikxt..—Tha craving for food by the helpless, young lias- in many cases been knowu to prompt kittens and whelps to- take milk from very different genera of the mammalia ; but one of the most extraordinary instances- of this nature is related to have occurred lately in Sydney. '' The circumstance has no such features as would render publicity objectionable, and the authenticity of the subjoined statements is vouched by the husband of the woman referred to. Mrs Byrne is a married woman, residing in Devonshii e-stre-jt, Sydney—her lmsbuul a native of the. colony, being well known in the metropolis. Some months ago she bore twins, one of which died, and the surviving infant, now about seven months old, became ailing. This the mother attributed to the insufficiency of milk. For several days she observed peculiar scratch.es about her bosom, unlike those that would be produced by the child. However, she ascribed them to the efforts of the child when hungry at night to get at the breast, and took the precaution to pare the child's nails. Still fresh scratches were noticed. Ko rats had been seen about the room until the cat. started one, which had found a hiding-place behind a small cask. Immediately the rat found itself chased it ran to Mrs Byrne as if for shelter. The scratches on her breast were at once identified as* those produced by a rat's claws, ami the impression that this creature had robbed her during the night of the milk for which her child was pining was supported by the fact that when the rat was killed she had "a plentiful supply —Sydney JJemkl. , •, .