Litchfield enquirer., 1833-09-26
eLEANINes IN NAruRAL nlsToRY.

cOlds0r wet and 1t has often amused me to watch the care they take to guard them- selves against they former. They will col- leRhstrawin their mouths ard carry it un- doWa shed the yard, and seem to invite their compahions, who are not so emI loy- ed, to assist inathe task, and, as the even- ing draws to a close, all will nestle toge,h- CT, after previous struggle for the warm est berth, generally lying head to stern, probably from having found out that they are less liable to quarrel while in this posi- tion.
 In ho, weather pigs cover themselves with mud, probably for the purpose of free ing themselves from vefmin or keeping off flies, as sSvages in hot climates cover them- selves with grease, &c. for the same pur- pose, and as Bruce states, that the elephant and rhinoceros do for protection against a fvzof which they have grea: dread, or perhaps it is done by way of cleansing their scrofalous skins. They are perfectly aware of an approaching change in the weather, when they may often be observed leaving field where they had previously been qui- etly feeding, and running 10 their sites at full speed, making great ou,cry the whole ofthe way. If they hear one of their companions in distress, they show not or-
 y sympathy for him, but endcavor to as- sist him io the utmost of their power; and such is the affection of SOW for her young, that it requires some little care to deprive her of one of them.
 ] take great delight in observing the habits of the animals in my farmsyard.- The old gander watches the sitting goose with great care, and will sometimes take its place on her nest. He is always for ward to protect the goslings, and hsses at and runs after any thing from which he ap- prehends dangcr. The cock struts before the hens, and never seems so happy as when he collects them about him to feast on grain of corn or an insect which he has found. This gallantry is, believe, peculiar to our. domestic cock, and does him no little credit. He fights to the last extremity with any intruder, and if he is 1 beaten, appears 10 consider himself unwor- l thy of the society of his former mates, and mopes in corner the very picture of wre,chcdness.
 Hen turkies arc dull and seem less ca- pable of enjoyment than any bird l know. have watched them stretching out their long necks, and stupidly looking for a quarter of an hour together at small tuft of grass, making short low cries all the time. On going up to examine what oc- casioned this unusual movement, have found a toad or frog concealed in the grass.
 Curiosity, more than fear, appeared to have attracted the turkey to the spot.-- l They are bad mothers, and frequently trample on their young, appearing 10 dis- regard their cries. Unlike the hen, they do not take any trouble in procuring food for their young. D0cks are in prodigious hustle when they quit their nests for food, and make great outcry when the drake comes up to greet their arrival again in the poultry yard. They run into the pond, flap their wings, and then come out, and are very clamorous till food is brought them. The young ducks, as soon as they arc matched, take to the water, and dart afier flies with the greatest activity. Fam always sorry to see ll,e anxiety and mise- ry of hen who has matched ducks, in- stead of her natura! progeny. When they take to the water she is in perfect agony. running round the brink of the pond, and sometimes flying into it, in hopes of rescu- ing her brood from the danger she appre- hends them to be in. A friend of mine observed remarkable instance of the de- gree to which this natural apprehension for her brood may be overcome in the hen by the habit of nursing ducks. A hen who had reared three broods of ducks in three successive years, became habituated to their taking to the water, and would fly to large stone in the middle of the pond, and patiently and quietly watch her brood as they swan about it.. The fourth year she matched her own eggs, and finding that her chickens did not take to the water as the ducklings had done, she flew to the stone in the pond, and called them to her with the utmost eagerness. This recollec- ton of the habits of her former charge, though it had taken place year before. is not a little curious.
 Interesting Inc;dent.-We are informed that on the 22d of July last small boy, under ten years of age. son of Isaac Steel, who lives with H. B. Robertson, near Co., lumbiana, Shelby co. in this state. was sent by Mir. R. to look out after his cows. He became bewildered and lost his way. The search was continued for several days ioD- ger. but all hopes of his being found alive were given up. A few persons, however. continued the search until within two days