Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-06-03

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From the London Literary Gazette.
REMARKABLE INSTANCE
OF ANIMAL VITALITY.
Accounts Of animals found imbedded
in the hearts of trees, and in solid rocks
have never been 90 well authenticated
as to establish beyond question the ex-
istenee of those extraordinary phenom-
ena, but recent instance has come un.
der our OVID cogniZance, which affords
distinct proof, net only of the preserva
ton of life. but of the natural growth
and progress Of an animal In state
which seems to preclude every idea
but that of humiliation. The history
OF the specimen to which we aI!ude is
short and curious. Among the woods
imported into this country for veneer
ing and other ornaments of furniture,
one OF the dryest, hardest, and most
beautiful, is the Zebra wood. In Dec.
last, in AIDING the edges OF an inside
plank of this tree, about two inches
within the edge of the plank, a species
of Csrambyx was discovered. Its Pc.
stion was longitudinal with the grain
of the wood and the sides Of the cavi-
ty containing it were smooth. The
wood itself was perfectly dry, and had
been brought to the saw mill, near
Strstford, in Essex, from the London
Docks, where 1t had probably lain ma
ny years.
On December 81. the specimen was
carried to that able naturalist, MIR.
Cliff, College Of Surgeons; it was then
in torpid state and appa'eptly dead /;
but on that gentteman's bringlng II
near the FIRE, it recovered It's r''acl'y,
and ate some brown sugar very greed,
ly. Being placed IN warm sItnation'
it lived till the 18th OF January, taking
very little nour;shment, except milk
or water. 1t was Kept upon a chim-
ney piece on some twigs OF tree, nD'
der . bell-glass go that the tempeIa-
ture might have been too high, and its
powers too much excited to allow it to
live through the winter. Thore was
another specimen in The same log OF
wood, which was destroyed by the teeth
of the saw, a2d led to the discovery OF
his more fortunate companion, who
not only escaped = violent death, but
has thrown light up on Natural dis
tory
The animal thus remarkably found
and revived in our climate, iatwo inch
es long. The color darker than Gin.
nanon brown: and what, considering
his habitstion, was the most wonderful,
his head was armed with two delicate
feelers, twice the length of his body.
How these tender filaments were dis.
posed in the hard wood puzzles con.
lecture while alive it usually carried
these antenne over its back, but occa-
sioDally brought them forward. Ha.
wing ten joints in each, il had the pow.
er Of folding them on its body. We
are sorry that We cannot accompany
this acc cunt az we wished, with an en-
craving gifts subject; but the regula.
lions Of the College Of Surgeons for
bid the grant Of such favor to any pub
LEGATION not altogether scientific ; and
ours 10, we hope, largely literary.
Some Of our readers may remember
an instance somewhat resembling the
present, and which also originated IN
der very singular circumstances. A
clerk in one of the courts at Guild.
hall bad been often staggered, if not
frightened, by the sound of something
like what superstition has named the
death. 10 atch, too near his desk to bode
any good to him. This old desk had
been court appendage fer number
of years: and our clerks astonishment
may be surmised, when one day, his
attention being perpetually attracted
by the ticking noise. he first saw mi
mute hole perforated to the surface
from the inner wood, and soon after
portion Of the insect instrument by
which this operation was performed,
protruded. With his penknife he care
fully enlarged the orifice, and ultimate.
ly succeeded in. digging out an animal
resembling the Cerambyx Of the zebra
wood, but Of brilliant colors and smaller
dimensions. The specimen was pre-
sented to Sir J. Banks and is, we pre-
sumo, still in the collection left BY him.
The differences which may be drawn
from those memorable phenomena, we
leave to the patnral philosopher: in
popular point of view, they are worth
recording for their curiosity.
LATEST NEWS FROM LIMA.
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