The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-07

some Of the most sing ular 10 our ears. tn
the whole forest offers. This bird, who,
proper nam is the Id,rny Thrush, has r
: Inarkably strong deep blowing voice, har'
ly musical, hut considerably varied, an
which may be llkened somewhat to the hn
low rolling sound made Ivy blowing into Il
muzZle Of a gun-tarrel. When heurd-
the stiffness of the evening, and among til
thick woods, where, in fact. they almest a
ways keep, the effect is very striking an
Impressive. They may some times he hear
during the day, when besides the pccuiis
whistle, just described, they more common
| ly utter single short and sharp cry. b.
they are more fond of the evening, an
about half an hour after sunset you ma
take your stand at the skirt of IA grove, an
| hear them call to one another among til
dark shadows of the trees, in full and EN-
phatic voice, some times harsh and husky, an
at Others me'lowed and tuned into warbl
not nnmnsical. One individual calls out
HOY treoo treos, tr0oo, iraoo;" in a few
seconds another replies-" Til III III, til Ii
ill.," and this musical colloquy is kept mp TO
half hour, or more there are certainly
few notes that sound more curieusly.
This Thrush is 10y no means rare bird
the woods ruund Boston are full of them
They are seen for few days in the Southern
States. as they pass northwardly, but they
breed only in these parts. Their nests are
always low, commonly close to the ground.
in siinted bush, or on a pile of sticks
Their plumage so exactly resembles the
color OF dead leal, that when in search Of
them person may pass round and over
them without making any discovery. This
bird seems TO be instinc:ively aware of this
circumstance, and trusts to her color for
conrealment. When sitting on her nest,
she will suffer any one to pass within foot
OF her station without moving feather.
PREJUDICEs AGAINST WHITE MEN IN
AFRICA. In the evening, when the sun
was going down, and when the birds, re-
covering from the sultry heat of the day,
had began to MARBLE in the GOODNESS of the
evening. the elders of the village assem-
bled under the spreading branches OF no.
BILE tree to spend an hour or two in familiar
chat, in pursuance of their common practice
To promote their cheerfulness and assist
their conversation, large calahashes of
strong home brewed beer were placed bv
the side of them. Having swallowed two
or three large draughts, the old men began
TO draw closer to each other, and the veneer
able chronicler Of the hamlet, in an under
tone, started conversation respecting
their guest, the fearful white man of the
west and various and horrible were the
conjertures of each on the cannibalstn of his
countrymen; their mysterious supe natural
powers, and their Partially for the blood of
black men in particular. Their conversa-
ton became more serious as the beer Began
to operate on the old men, and as the dusk
of evening came on they drew still closer
together; their legs which had before been
stretched cut carelessly and comfortably at
full length, on the ground, were now gath
cred up under them; and every now and
then they ventufed to look back over their
shoulders to steal glance at me for was
not far of, hut this only seemed to inspire
them with greater fear than before. The
younger natives were about this time re-
turning from the village from their usual
occupations by the river side, and in the
fields, and they stopped to join the company
of the old men. The latter were almost
naked, and the young men and girls perfect
ly so, as well as the children of both sexes.
which had lIeen attracted to the party, and
stood listening to the tales of horror, which
we're rented. One of our men had been
sitting all the while with them, partaking OF
their beer, and had been silent till he con-
ceived it almost time to retire, when he en-
deavored TO und:ceive them, in regard to
their opinion OF The natural propensities of
white men, and to overthrow all the visions
Of bloody adventures which they had i'm
bbed in their infancy, and cherished in
their old age, and which had this evening
been strengthened almost to realities bv nv
presence, assisted by the effects of the beer
they had drunk. But their love for the mar
velous could not so easily he eradicated from
their minds, and they turned deaf ear to
his remarks. The children Stunned my
hut as lift had contained a serpent or. sror-
pion, and one or two of them, that met me
by accident, started, then look anxiously,
eagerly, and entreatingly at me for q mo-
ment, as if overcome by terror, and then
shrieked aloud and ran away.
Landers' Travels.
OLD PRAcTIcEs. In some parts of Scot
land. IN former times. the ploughs used to
be drawn by four horses abreast, and re-
quired the attendance of three men. The
business of one man was to drive. For that
purpose, he placed himself between the
middle horses, with his face towards the
plough to guide it straight and in this po-
sition he walked backwards with the rens
in his hand. Another walked behind the
horses with ciocked staff, which he faster n.
ell in front Of the beam, and Ivy means of il
regulated the depth of the furrow, by rails
ing or lowering the plough as occ sion re-
CURED. The ploughman followed with a
hold on the stills; and in this formidable
and ludicrous manner, they repeated thcil
attacks upon the soil.
In harvest, basket machine was placed
on horseback for carrying home the grain
and persons were employed on each side
with forks to keep it on a proper poise. L
is said that this practice was within few
years, to he met with in Galloway.
Many practices, subsisting even at thi.
day in Ireland, are still more ridiculous
Mr.. Arthur Young tells, that in Doregal, h,
has actually seen horses ploughing, fasten
ed by the tail.
LosT-within five years. Ave hundred dollar
cash at interest farm worth one thousand
horses. cattle sheep. DC. sufficient to stock il
mechanics and merchants confidence, also thu
countenance OF society white and unstaino'
face, the use of pair Of eyes; love and re
spect of kind, amiable, ano cheerful wife, am
a numerous circle of obliging and anxious rela
lives: and in return, have found sheritfs an