Rule Definition
Invoking virtual functions in a constructor/destructor always invokes the function for the class under construction/destruction, even when the constructor is invoked as part of the construction of a derived Class. This behavior is not often what was expected.

Remediation
If you want virtual function call behavior at construction time, it must be done post construction. Several idioms exist to help you do that, however none of them are perfect ("C++ coding standards":http://www.gotw.ca/publications/c++cs.htm details some options).

Violation Code Sample

class Mother 
{
public:
    Mother() { display(); }
private:
    virtual void display() { cout << "Mother function call\n"; }
};

class Child : public Mother 
{
private:
    virtual void display() { cout << "Child function call\n";}
};


int main()
{
    Child child; // will display "Mother function call"
}

Fixed Code Sample

class Mother 
{
public:
    template <class T>
    shared_ptr<T> create()
    {
        shared_ptr<T> result = make_shared<T>();
        result->display();
        return result;
    }
protected:
    Mother() { } // It is now protected, to prevent direct creation
private:
    virtual void display() { cout << "Mother function call\n"; }
};

class Child : public Mother 
{
protected:
    Child() { } // It is now protected, to prevent direct creation
private:
    virtual void display() { cout << "Child function call\n";}
};

Effective C++ (Scott Meyers): "Item 9: Never call virtual functions during construction or destruction":http://www.artima.com/cppsource/nevercall.html C++ coding standard (Sutter/Alexandrescu): "Item 49":http://www.gotw.ca/publications/c++cs.htm