The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-03 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS: ;

EMIGRATION OF A COI.OP►T OP CATER-
PILLARS.

[Front a tow in Prosenee, published to dm Edinburgh Journal
of Science.)
In scrambling over one of the arid coteaux above Tolo
nai, the beautiful summer residence of our worthy old
friend, Matslial Comte Gallifct, I was attracted by the ma:.
noeuvres of a troop of emigrating insects, which amused
me very much. It is very easy to attribute the sin-
gular economy in the actions of the insect world to the mere
influence of instinct, as the governing principle of every
living thing below the scale of reason; but we must either
extend the meaning of that word beyond the mere actions
of an involuntary impulse, or find it fall short of explain-
ing much of what may be observed in the operations even of
that lowest tribe.of er,atures. We readily lavish our ad-
miration on the wonderful arrangements of some tribes,
whose operations may be more particularly exposed to our
scrutiny, but ibis may arise fully more from our deficiency
of observation or opportunity, than from the inferiority of
one class to another in the marvellous nature of their opera-
tions. Wherever our observation penetrates in the wide
field of nature, we shall not want cause for wonder or mo-
tives for diffidence in the limited extent of our own facul-

ties. It is admitted that instinct may account for their
proceedings so long as they remain uninterrupted by op-
position, but what must we call that species of intelligence
that instantly proceeds to remedy, if practicable, any un-
foreseen accident that may interrupt their proceedings?
I observed, what appeared to me a very slender
snake, writhing across my path, which, but for the un-
usual season for these reptiles to appear, I should, no doubt,
have passed unheeded. Upon examination, towever, it
turned out to, be the orderly emigration of a colony of large
caterpillars. They were proceedin assiduously along the
rocky path, in a line of march by single files. and so close
that they appeared to have a hold each of his neighbour's
tail, and the continued wave formed by their motion had a
very singular effect. The stony surface of the path ren-
dered their progress exceedingly tortuous, and inter-
rupted by much climbing over stones, as they seemed in
general more disposed to go over the top of a stone than
round its base. When such obstacles omit red, the march,

notwithstanding, did not sustain the slightest derangement,
as no troops could mark time with greater precision and pa-
tience than the rear of the line, while the front was en:

gaged in climbing over any obstacle, or the leader had
stopped to examine the difficulty; the front, in their turn,
tarrying until the rear hail succeeded in surmounting the
obstruction which the front had just passed. They were
twenty-two in number, and nearly of the same else' • except
one, considerably larger than the rest, whose place was
exactly in the centre of the line. The leader, on the con-
trary, was rather smaller than any of the rest. A large
precipitous stone was in their way ; the leader reared up,
moving his head from side to side, as if gazing at it, or
willing to reach some corner ; and leading his troop round,
he frequently performed the same examination, until they
reached a small bush, round the stem of which he ascend-
ed, the iong line following with perfect confidence, and
by means of a branch of the bush, they attained footing
on the stone.

Traversing the stone; the opposite side of which was quite
precipitous and pretty high, it became uncommonly inter-
esting to see how this intelligent general would proceed. He
examined with accuracy, trying every possible break, during
which time the main body remained patiently waiting, and
without making the slightest attempt to assist in the exami-
nation, which their leader conducted with much activity and
solicitude. At length, having ascertained the pass to be
quite impracticable, he resolved upon a counter-march,
which was instantly performed with the most surprising
regularity ; for the whole line in succession advanced to
the wheeling point on the brink before they turned, per-
forming the evolution with as perfect precision as the best
trained troops, the advancing and retreating lines passing
close alongside side of each other, and even climbing the
same twig, while the front line descended without confusion,
passing even over each other's bodies without interruption
or hesitation.

Having completed their descent in the same manner as
they had mounted, a new line of direction was taken, which
however was very soon moat alarmingly interrupted by the
arrival of a woman leading an assloaded with brush-wood,
of which some branches trailed along the path. After the
passage of this formidable assailant, I returned with some
anxiety to examine the state of my colony, and found that
they had suffered materially from the disaster, and were
thrown into the greatest confusion. The line of march had
been broken ; a considerable body still followed the leader
with a quickened pace ; others, united in parties of three
and four, regularly keeping their :position in the rear of
each other while their temporary conductor sought, with
evident anxiety, to find out the main body, hastening first
on one side and then to the other. A good many were
scattered singly and much distressed, seemingly uncertain
how to proceed. I took each of them up in their turn, and
with a view to ascertain the range of their vision, placed
them at different distances from the main body, with their
heads turned towards it, and I found that they uniformly
remained quite unconscious oF its presence, until placed
within halt an inch of each other. They then approached
with evident eagerness, anti were readily admitted into the
line, by the rear halting until they had taken their places.
I put one of these stragglers in front, with his tail to the
leader's bead, but he pertinaciously refused the honour of
conducting the line; a considerable sensation seemed to be
communicated through the whole body at this attempt at
usurpation, of which they seemed to become aware, but
by what means I could not discern. As soon as this forced
usurper was at liberty, he turned round to the leader, who
repulsed him with vigour, and bit at him ; upon which he
retreated hurriedly along the line, constantly trying to get
into his place, but was bit at by every one as he ran the
gauntlet, till at last a good-natured friend permitted him
to join the line. I then took out the large one, who was
obviously a stupid fellow, when the rear immediately closed
up the breach. I placed him at the head, and used every
inducement to make him take the lead, but in vain. He
seemed much confused by the hearty buffets given to him
by the active little Buonaparte whom I wished him to sup-
plant, so that he probably would have failed in regaining
his place, had I not given him some assistance out of
sympathy, for the distress my experiment had occasioned
hint. Ile seemed delighted to get into his place again;
but was so much confused by the adventure, that he mis-
took the first sharp turn the line came to, and threw the
whole rear into confusion. They broke their line, and
much consternation and bustle ensued, until each had re-
placed his head close to his neighbour's tail.
I now took up their leader, obviously less, though mere
active and intelligent than the rest, when the alarm instantly
spread over the whole line. I expected the second to take
the command, but he seemed the most distressed of any,
and eagerly sought about from side to side, and in his per-
' plexity he turned quite round, as if consulting with his
follower. The hesitation and confusion was now universal.
Various parties broke off as the impression reached the rear,
and sought anxiously about, returning again to the line.
Having replaced the leader at their head, lie instantly took
the command,advancing wi.h confidence, and conducting the
whole line in perfect order. When I now interrupted their
march, the main body no longer exhibited their former
anxiety and impatience when the leader was removed, but
seemed to wait with perfect composure anti confidence,
until the obstruction W 33 overcome, which the leader used
every means and ingenuity to accomplish. It did not oc-
cur to me till I had left these amusing travellers, to try the
experiment of placing the leader in the rear, in order to
observe how he would bear the degradation, and to ascer-
tain if the head of the column would have been thereby
changed.

MURDER AND ROBBElly.—On Wednesday evening last,
a young man, a shepherd, belonging to Messrs. Drook,
farmers, at Bexhill, was found in a pond, near that place,
with his throat cut, and his watch and the little money he
had in his packet gone. At the time of the murder the
deceased had two dogs with him, one of which, an old one,
left the fatal spot and went home howling ; the other re-
mained at the pond where the body was found. Two
brothers, of Bexhill, are in custody, suspected of haring
committed the horrid deed. It has been ascertained that
the prisoners sold a watch, known to hare belonged to the
deceased, to a watchmaker at Bexhill, on the following
day, Thursilay.—Drigiton raprr.

BRITISH SQUADRON OFF THE COAST OF

APRICA.

The following is a copy of a letter just received at Ports-
mouth :
DIAVRITIUS, OCT. 10.
" His Majesty's ship Andromache, with a Commodore's flag
half-mast, returned to this island 27th Sept. after an absence of 1)4
days, and after a passage of 28 days, from the island of Mombasa
on the eastern cant of Afri,o having previously run down the
weetern ;oast of the Island of Madagascar, visiting the extensive
bay of Beinbatooka to meet Radama, King of Madagascar, and
his army, consisting of 10,000 men under arms, 4,000 of shorn
are clothed.. Each soldier and officer being allowed from one to
three slaves, swelled the number engaged in this campaign, for the
reduetiou of the King of BembatOoka's territories, to at least
twenty-four thousand men, carrying with them four field-pieces.
From the want of a Commissariat, officers and soldiers arc compel-
led to provide for themselves, and these slaves are employed to car-
ry the chief food, rice. Rattan's got possession of the numerous
populated town of Majimga, with no other bloodshed that the
spearing to deith the Governor, who alone declined swearing al-
legiance to him. A force was left of one thousand men, with three
pieces of heavy cannon, on the summit of a hill directly command-
ing the town of Majimga, and commanded by Radama's brother-
in-law, Prince Rammannantek out of this number no less than
200 were sick of fevers and ulcers. Bethune, with the remainder
of the army, were encamped about forty Miles from Majinigs,
holding almost daily licittars with the conquered King of Bertha-
took& In this ramp they had 2.000 sick, and without a medical
man attached to the mini. The Andromache passed the Comoros in
the Mozambique Channel, and visited the Islands of Zanzibar and
Pemba, belonging to the Imaun of Muscat, sad then proceeded to
Mombasa. Lieutenant John James Reitz, of his 31ajt sty's ship
Baracouta, and who had been sonic time before appointed by Capt.
Gwen, of his Maiesty's ship Leven, Resident and Commandant of
this Island, died, with two seamen, of fever (two others were un-
well), when the folloiing appointments took place, by order of
Commodore Nourse. C.B. t-31r. AVilson, Admiralty Midshipman
of his Majesty's ship Ariadne, to the rank of Lieutenant in the
Baracouta, vice Rein, deceased; Mr. J. B. Eni!ory. Admiralty
Midshipman of his Afajcst)'s ship Espeigle, British Resident and
Commandant of Mombasa, with the rank of Lieutenant, vice
Reitz; Messrs. J. B. Marsh and F. H. Le 31eaurier, Admiralty
Midshipmen of the Andromache, to the rank of Lieutenant, vice
Nash and Grant, of the Espeigle, invalided. The Andromache
left Mombasa on the 31st August. on the 4th of September, in
lat. 3. 33. South, long. 45. 53. Emit, Commodore Joseph Nourse,
C.B. died of fever; also, the same day, Lieutenant Archibald
Grant, late of the Espetgle ; two days after, Lieutenant .1. U.
Westherall, Royal Artillery, passengers on board ' • a few days
after, 111 r. 11. Trethury, Admiralty Clerk, the Commodore's Stew-
ard, and one Marine--all of fever. His Majesty's ships Leven,
Baracouta, and Albatross tender, were surveying, the former the
Eastern Coast, and the two latter the Western Coast of Madagas.
ear, and expected to be at alornbass the latter end of September,
and having replenished their provisions (a vessel with provisions
bad arrived at Mombass from the Mauritins) and water, they in-
tend surveying the islands to the Northward of Madagascar—Amu-
rantes and Sychelles. Two young Midshipmen of the Baracouta,
Mr. Samuel Parsons and Mr. E. Boyce, had been assassinated
by the natives of Madagascar. The Andromache also gained
authentic intelligence of Acting Lieut. C. Brows, of the Leven,
promoted for the express purpose of ascending the River Menice
for the Capital of Sena, with Mr. Fortin', i Botanist, and
Mr. Kirkpatrick, Assistant-Surgeon, having fallen victims to the
climate. Had that dire and precarious climate permitted them to
have prosecuted their instructions, they were to have proceeded
through the heart of the country to Latakoo, where English Mis.
sionanes reside—thence to Cape Town. The senior Lieutenant,
Luke If. Wray, of the Andromache, had appointed himself Cap-
tain of the ship. in the room of Commodore Nourse, C.B. and had
appointed 31r. T. Evertificld, Mishipmsn of the Andrainache, to
the rank of Lieutenant in his stead. The Ariadne, Captain C. R.
'Muorsom, the senior officer on the station, was expected hourly from
the Sychelles, which officer would assume the command and hoist
his broad-pendant on board the Andromache. The Espeigle, Cap-
tain Chapman, was also expected in a few days from Mombasa,
with Mr. Henry Nourse, the British Consul-General of Zaniibar,
on board; Captain Chapman, bring the only Commander on the
station, would take the command of the Ariadne; and who would
command the Espeigle depended on Commodore Moonom's ar. li
rangement. The W'teard, a Colonial brig, commanded by Liente-
nant Maynard, late of the Andromache, was expected with Govern-
ment specie from Bengal. No intelligence had been gained of his
Majesty's late sloop Delight, nor of that amiable and excellent
character, Captain Robert Hay, officers, and crew. The body of
the deceased Commodore was on board, preserved in spirits, for
interment at this island. Lieutenant Smith, of the Royal Navy,
had been shot in a duel by a French gentleman Smith was the
son of the late Chief Judge of this island, and had been residing
here for some titue past."