The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-05-21
[WHoLE No. 2S77.

1 volume of DIR. Godman's American Natural
History, recently published in Philadelphia is
principally occupied with the history of ceta-
ceous animals, including the granpus, porpoise,
and all the varieties of the whale These ami
mails come in by way of Appendix to the class
of mammiferous animals, not being considered
as belonging to the class of fishes, though they
have remote resemblance to them in shape.
The difference between them is striking. Fish
/ es breathe by gills, have cold and red blood, a
single heart, and deposit eggs or spawn
/ Whales have lungs, and though they inhabit
the ocean they must necessarily rise to the sur
face to respire. They have warm and red
blood, and double heart, with two ventricles
and autricles like that Of human being. But
one is produced at time, and that is nourished
In a manner peculiar to mammlfcrous animals.
( The lateral or pectoral fins have an anatomical
structure similar to that of the human arm and
hand and the f1ukes of the tail have bones like
! the lower extremities of the human skeleton.
8 The maternal affection of the whale, which,
n s other respects Is apparently stupid ANIMAL
sensible to danger, is easily harpooned when
! the tender attachment of the mother is so man
Tested as not untrequently to bring her within
1 the reach of the whalers. Hence, though cub
is OF little value, seldom producing above ton
Of oil, and often less, yet it is sometimes struck
as a snare for its mother. In this case she joins
it at the surface of the water, whenever it has
occasion to rise for respiration; encourages it
to swim off; assists its flight, by taking it un-
der her fin, and seldom deserts it while life re-
mains. She is then dangerous to approach
but affords frequent opportunities for attack,
She loses all regard for her own safety, in
anxiety for the preservation of her young dash
es through the midst of her enemies despises
the danger that threatens her and even voluR-
tarily remains with her offspring, after various
attacks on herself from the harpoons of the fish
ers. In June, 1871, a harpooner struck suck
er, with the hope of its leading to the capture
OF the mother. Presently she arose close by the
" fast boat" and Selling the young one, drag
ged it about hundred fathoms of line with re-
markable force and velocity Again she arose
to the surface darted to and fro; frequently
stopped short, OF suddenly changed her difec-
ton, and gave every possible intilnation OF ex-
treme agony. For length of time she contn-
Eed thus to act, though closely pursued by the
boats and inspired with courage and resolu-
ton by the concern for her offspring, seemed
regardless of the danger which surrounded her
At length one of the boats approached so near
that harpoon was hove at her. 1t hit but did
not attach itself A second harpoon was thrown,
and this also failed to penetrate; but a third
was more effectual and held Still she did not
attempt to escape; but allowed other boats to
approach so that in few minutes, three more
/ harpoous were fastened, and in the course of an
| hour afterwards she was Killed.
.Nelo York Journal Of Commerce.
( AMUSING SPECIMEN OF ARAB HORTICULTURE
The palm tree, though beautiful tree, is some-
times it appears, very obstinate one and the
means which we are told, on Arab authority,
should be used TO render it more docile on these
occasions, would astenish the hofticulturists Of
| Europe. When palm-tFee refuses to bear,
/ (says the Arab author of treatise on agricul-
| fr1ra 4to ,v-skI hot hat
/ comes TO visit it in company with another per-
son. He then begins By observing aloud to his
friend, Gin order that the date tree should hear
HIM. g am going to cut down this worthless
tree, since it no longer bears me any fruit.
1 '' Have a care what you do brother" returns
his companion " should advise you to do no
such thing, for win venture to predict that
this very year your tree will be covered with
fruit g No, no. replies the owner, +" am de-
termined to cut it down, for am certain it will
produce me nothing y and then approaching
the tree, he proceeds to give it two or three
strokes with his Ratchet. " Pray now! en-
treat you, desist," says the mediator, holding
hack the arm of the proprietor" Do but OBJ
serve what fine tree it is, and have patience
for this one season more; should it fail after
that to bear you any fruit, you may do with II
Just what you please" The owner of the tree
then allows himself to be persuaded, and retires
without proceeding to any further extremities-
But the threat, and the few strokes inflicted with
the Ratchet, have always, it is said, the desired
effect and the terrified palm-tree produces the
same year most abundant supply OF fine dates.
Beckeys TraretS IN Cyrenaica-
ORIGINAL ANEcDoTE. In one of our country
taverns few years since, there happened to be
number of respectabe farmers clad IN the usual
habit, when a spruce young gentleman came in,
rugged in the highest style, with watch in his
pocket, who strutted around the room, with
( great pomp, dingling his gold watch keys and
| seals in the most toppish manner After swag-
! eerng about the room for few minutes, he
cried out and challenged any man in the room
to drop money with him, one piece at time,
and the one whose purse held out the. longest
should take the whole and treat the company
No one at first appeared disposed to accept his
challenge, which only tended to render the fop
the more inflated with an idea of his superior
wealth, and he became the more. earnest. At
! length, q rusty looking, but shrewd old farmer
observed, if no one else would accept of his of
fer, he would do it. II IS DONE, said the top,
and Immediately called on third man to hold
the hat, and commenced the game, by dropping
a piece Of money into the hat The farmer
then put his hand into his pocket and took out
what was called bung-tOaoa copper and drop
| ped it into the hat The fop Immediately dropt
in his second piece, when the farmer, feeling in
his pocket after another piece, but finding none,
gravely observed, | am beat, I've got no more
you may take the whole and treat the company.
Montpelier Patriot
THE TEETH The teeth rank high among
those parts of the animal body which appear
almost as if they were sevcrally the fruits Of
distinct miraculous agencies-so difficult is it
I to suppose few simple laws of life capable Of
producing the variety Of form so beautifully
adapted 10 purposes which they exhibit. They
constitute an extraordinary set of chissels and
Inrt Al, ho. nHE Gn..