Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-01
RAT STORY.
From The Ne,O York MQndm0

For the satisfaction OF some Of your readers
WIN may be curious IN collecting facts in natural
history, will state to sou fact, which to me IS
very su rprising, indicating nearer approach to
reason IN the brute creation than any thing thar
have ever met with before, equally we'll substan-
tiated.
Living in the upper part of the city, have
been in the habit of keeping fowls; since The
warm weather commenced, we have not had the
usual supply Of eggs which we had reason TO ex-
meet; the complaint was made to me day alter
day., that the boy could lind no eggs, the hens
cackling as usual, indicating that 1t was not their
fault. asked the boy il the dog took them; he
said he could not gel at the nest. He. hO~ev-
or, determined to watch, and if possible detect
this depredator on my property, considering 1t
an unfair business Transaction On my return
home Yesterday, he told me as follows:
Hearing the hen cackle. he went to the fowl
house, and on opening the door rather suddenly,
he saw some rats rua away TO their holes; sus
pectns them to be aggressors. he closed the door
and silently watched. 10 few minutes they
again made their appearance, and after looking
cautiously about, and discovering no enemy, they
| set about providing themselves supper at my ex-
pense There were three of them; one climbed
To the nest, while the others remained below
The nest is 2S inches las measured it this morn
inc from the floor. The rat in the nest lmmedl
atey began to dislodge the egg. by roling,t with
| his hind legs, much as you often see certain
kind of beetle in the country roll their balls; he
rolled it "yera oaniiy," as the boy expressed it.
to the edge of the nest, when It tell; the two
other rats in the meanwhile had placed them
selves directly under, and sitting up as squirrels
do, face to face, they held out their arms, or
fore paws, and thus caught the egg as tell with
| out its breaking.
The whole then simultaneously commenced
rolling it TO the hole, where in short time 1t
disappeared together with The rata. 1t appears
evident that the rats knew that the egg would
break IN falling ss inches, if they did not catch
It How near this apparent rafiocination may
| approach to what 10 ourselves we dignity with
the title reason, leave others to judge.
The facts as related tome BY the boy have no
doubt are strictly true.
Passage of Mssket Bullets through The hu-
man body.-A number OF curious cases OF the
nroeress of musket balls frum the place where
they were first lodged, have been observed by
military surgeons. We have heard Of a very re.
markable case. where the musket ball struck the
forehead above the nose, and having divided into
two halves. one ha't went rounu os"ea" '"e e"'n'
on the right side, and the other on '6e lett ad
yanc;oo in contact with the skull. We do not
ask our readers to believe the poetcal edition OF
this fact, that the two half bullets met again be-
hind. after having performed the circuit OF the
head in opposite directions. and. advancing with
slightly diminished force, united, and killed an
unfortunate man who stond in their way; but the
fact Of the splitting Of the bullet. and the ad
vance Of each half 10 Opposite drectins. is un
que st,onable. The singular progress OF mus
iet bullet frnm the forehead 10 the throat, has