Mobile daily commercial register and patriot., 1841-05-21
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Letter from OtFer bOdrd th, Exploring FTpedi-
 tion to his b,o,hsr etfeer at hone.

Letter from on OHcr on bOGrd he Exploring FzPedi
 tion fo his brother 9tfeer at hOme.
 Ny Dear D: It has been nearly three years since have heard of or seen you. Supposing yon have about terminated your cruise, and are now enjoying yourself with old friends N. IT, will endeavor to add your many enjo, by relating some of the wonders sf the Antarctic zone, or, we have termed , the magnetic zone. Ateyery step new wonders sur prise science appears astonished, and reasn af- most doubts her existence. Where shall begin! In tho air, ocean, L,nd1 All all have yielded up their wonders! On the 25th, we stood in for the land Ga new continent ) about 4 P. NJ. the wind died away, and left us surroundedby masses of floating ice. Ha'- ing obtained cast of the lead, and getting bottom at 45 fathoms, we anchored As it was intensely cold, we compelled to shut in all the ports which obliges us to burn candles at midday below While tea, (about P. M the candles by which we were taking out tea began flicker, and sunk almost out. Finally, they left in the dark. In few moments more they shone out with most beautiful light, and then died away entirely. We took the candles to- wards the light, and to astonislment the sperm acit of which candies made appeared to stand out in beautiful crystals, like ice when first freezing This singular phenonenon occurred every twenty ouf hours, about P. Our ingenuity was put to the test to ascertain the cause; when, after rilltless search among the scientific corps for the why and wherefore, mere accident disclosed the secret had stuffed stormy petre and passed wire through the body to hang by. By mere accident Dent the wire and threw it across the clip which holds in
 
 in total obscurity, discovered light inmy room opening the door, we were all surprised to see a beautiful bright pencil of light, which appeared to proceed from this stormy petrel: On close inspec- ton, discosered t,t it caused by electro magnetic influence Of. 'gak kanisn. We then passed two or three turns of zncaround our tiller chain radiating the ends; obtained the same effect. A necessity is the mother oi invention, this discovery led to very happy results. We were enabled, while in that latitude, to obtaI light at all times by very l -. n. l..T.. and zinc to pass down ou hatch the irresistible steeping the ends of the ods in ball of charcoal. beautiful and brilliant liglt was produced. The mos singular phenomena produced were the effects il had upon the Six even of them would become | highly charged with the magnetic fluid, and deer sleep would be the cause They would answer man, questions put them, tell singular things, the moment they became il his state. Dr.--woulc place them in row, make them take each other by the hands, and place spel rod in the hand of the towards the south side pf the ship, and in a few minutes the electric magnetic fluid would pass of and relieve them from teir somnambuic state. | The freaks of old dage Nature not more sin gular m the water than the phenomena of the air. will endeavor to describ, most singular fish. Il has neither fin nor ail long spike of six inches terminated by three pr0pgs, radatng at an angle O 10 deg from common centre, takes the place of the tail in common fish hese points can be radiatet compressed at pleasure. In place of fins it has or each side two spikes of two inches in length, term mating in point. 'Upn the back there two spikes; will call the dorsal spikc the other tho | trigger spike, the latter cannot be pressed dowI unless you touch small bone behind it. This fisl we have named the "masnetc radial spike fish," It nose is also terminated with a spike of inch II length, Quartermaster l.-- was the first persol who captured this singular inhabtant of the grea deep. He brought it to lne, and, on touching one 0 l its spikes, felt my arm as far up the elbow be come numb. We then paced it in a bucket of wate to watch its movements. As we have taken severa of these fish, and preserIed them for the "Nationa lnsttution, yos will have an opportunity to see them
 regret that you will not be able the singula manner in which it propis itself-by accommodating
 quantity of electricity. which discharges with grea rapdity from its tail radii When it wishes to t'ir or move sideways, as it can move any way, sid spike is projected; fdown, the spikes on its bacl are elevated fup, the radi the tail are dePress ed. When in the act of taking it's prey, il remain stationary few minutes, and then projects a strean of electricity from the spike in it's had It attack the largest fish, and even seal, Ya this formidabl fish does not exceed three feet in engh.
 d must now closet but as promised to call ar waetr, and earth to my assistance, cannot rcfrai from describing singular species of crane We have also preserved sbrd of this kind for the In stitute. This bird is about the size of aango, an have called the .srotary faningo It will stan for half an hour of the highest peaks of ice and spin round like opera dancer, until 1t looks lik
 tall icicle We first could not account for the gam bos of this eccentric bird but have by careful watch ing and close attention discovered that takes in it mouth large piece of be- gives itself violent noton and projects tlis lump of ice great disanc feeds appear at the suricc The vessel about sail ing, and have only tine to say adieu.
 Yours, truly.
 To K. l., D., U. S. N