Partus sequitur ventrem

The offspring follows the mother; the brood of an animal belongs to the owner of the dam; the offspring of a slave belongs to the owner of the mother or follow the cendition of the mother. A maxim of the civil law, which has been adopted in the law of England in regard to animals, though never allowed in the case of human beings.

2 Bl. Comm. 390, 94; Fortes. 42.