Litchfield enquirer., 1843-06-08
SAGACITY OF BEES.

sAGACITY OF BEES.
 ! Any thing relative to the Natural History of Bees, is particularly interesting at this period when so many of our intelligent countrymen are endeavoring to introduce them generally among the people of New England. The following anecdote is ex- tracted from "a letter from J. Hector St. John, a farmer in Pennsylvania to friend in England" first published we believe in 17S4:
 "The sagacity of these animals, which have long been the tenants of my farm, as- tonishes me some of them seem to sur pass even men in memory and sagacity. l could tell you singular instances of this kinds What then is this instinct which we so de- base, and of which we are taught to enter- tain 50 dimnutive an idea My bees above any other tenants of my farm, attracted my attention and respect. am astonished to see that nothing exists but what has its en. emy one species pursues and lives upon the other. Unfortunately our kingbirds are the destroyers of these industrious insects: but on the other hand these birds preserve our fields from the depradations of crows, which they pursue on the wing with great vigilance and astonishing dexterity. Thus divided by two interested motives, have long resisted the desire had to kill them until last year, when I thought they in. creased too much, and my indulgence had been carried too far. It was at the time of swarming, when they all came and fixed themselves on the neighboring treess whence they caught those bees that return. ed from the field. This made me resolve 10 kill as many as could. And was just ready to fire, when bunch of bees as big as my fist issued from one of the hives, rush. ed on one of these birds, and probably stung him, for he instantly screamed and flew, not as before in an irregular manner, but in a direct line. He was followed by the same phalanx at a considerable distance, which unfortunately becoming too sure of victory quilted their military array and disbanded themselves. By this inconsiderate 'step they lost all that aggregate of force which made the bird fly off. PerceiYing this dis. order he immediately returned, and snap- ped as many as he wanted, nay, he had even the impudence to alight on the very 1 twig from which the bees had driven him. I killed him, and immediately opened his craw, from which took I'll bees. laid them all on a blanket in the sun, and to my great surprise, 54 returned to life, licked themselves clean, and ioyfully went back to the hive; where they probably informed their companions of such an adventure and escape, as believe had never happened be- fore to American bees!"
 The morning papers give the particulars of case, in which good hearted Virginian. was taken in and done for" by means of a brass watch, made to look like gold ones
 He was going to Roston at the wharf he was assaied bya young rascal who snid that he was a Virginian, anxious to reach Boston, but cestitule of money, and possess. ed only of a valuable gold watch, for which he had paid hundred dollars, but which his need compelled him to offer for fifty adding that he would gladly redeem it on his arrival at Boston, The generous Virginian paid the 50 dollars !; and it is almost needless to add that the distressed vender was quickly an ab. sentee, or that the valuable gold watch pro. we'd to be worth nothing.-N. Y. Com. Adrt.
 TIE LocUsTs' CoM1NG.-A correspondent of the Richmond Whig, writing from Henrico, says ;-"This morning, about sunrise, one of my children exclaimed, Oh, father, knock this bug off my arm.' found it to be locust in the feeble condition In which they emerge 1 from the shell. was explaining to her something of the natural history of this in- sect, when a servant, whose attention was arrested, said that there were great many in the yard ; upon going out found full and apt illustration of the lesson had been endeavoring to make intellgible to my little girl The yard, which is without sward, was perforated with multitude of holes a. bout the size of the end of my little finger, and the sides of the house literally covered with locusts and their shells"
 There has been sort of insurgency among the girls employed in the Chicopee Cotton Mill, near Springfield, Mass. They 1 turned out en miliiGr,e last week, in their best bib and tucker. and marched 10 inc martial music into Springfield, having employed male drummer and fifer, (we believe they were male,) and another "he creature" to carry the flag for them. They halted in front of the other mills, waved their flag and pocket handkerchiefs in the hope of recruit ing their forces, but as the girls in the factory wouldn't join their ranks they ietreated upon Chicopee. The next day they mustered again. but there being too few of them for | fuss this time they soon disappeared altogeth- CT. The cause for this instruction was in this wise; their employers had imposed ad- dtlonal work upon them without Increasing the price.
 | GREAT FLIGHT OF BIRps.-Tbere was tres menslous storm Of lightning and thunder last night commencing at about nine o'clock and continuing till near day light. During the prevalence of the storm a vast number of birds were flying over the city, which, from the noise they mado are supposed to be of the blower species. The flight continued ; | for several hours, and unless the birds flew 1 round and about, there must have been myr- iads of them-for in all parts of the city and | in every direction, the noise they made was ! L nonA oA