Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-07-31
A CURIOUS FACT.

HsEetoiore the Fish has not enioved 4 very
high reputation for intelligence, and their
historians are not apt to be very fiattering.-
IN the animal scale, the equgtic tribe has been
placed very low, and Psychologists have no;
Jailed TO attribute this 10 theic small volume
OF BRAIN, and the absence of cerebral bumps,
which, IN their system, preside over intellect.
Aristotle told of FISH which built nests
but the idea was treated rather cavalierly. NJ.
Cosie has jus, established the fact by expert
ment, and he has ascertained that the cDineche,
not only constructs its nest with a skill wor-
thy oil the swallow, but having deposited its
eggs in 1t, 1t watches over their dcvelopment.
and defends them with a courageous solicit
iude, in which it exhibits a degree OF intelli-
gerce, judgment, and paternal love. Of which
we have been heretofore far from believing
the fish capable.
He recently placed in some Circular ponds
III the grounds attached to the CoHegc de
France, a large number Of male and female
epinoches, taken just before they were ready
TO spawn. a few DAYS after they had been
placed in their new habitliion, he observed
that several Of the males chose for a perma-
nent location, a certain part at the bottom Of
the pond, where they commenced 10 dis
play a remarkable activity. NJ. Coste plac-
ed himself in a position to observe item, and
10 assure himself OF the object OF their man
euvres, and of their consta ut return 10 the
same chosen spot and he was nc! long in
discovering thai the sole occupation of erch
OF them cons; sted in gathcrin! materials for
the building of nests -; to the construction OF
which they devoted a most remarkable indus
try. Each male who engages in this enter
prise, heaps up in the place of his choice,
bits of herbs, &c. which he frequently brings
In his mouth from quite Il d-isiance--and with
which he commences the formation of a kind
OF carpet. But as the materials Of which
this first part of his cdifice is composed are
liable to be dislodged by the movement cr
the water, he has the prec2nti9a 10 lay uror
them ii quantity of pebb,e5-which he also
brings In his mouth-to hold them down.
Then 10 give to all these united elements a !
cohesion which shall bind them together, he /
repeatedly glldes slowly over them with a
vibratory melton, and thus agglutinaios them
with the mncus from his skin. By this
means the collected materials at length form
a sollG foundation on which he can afterwards
rear lie rest OF his cGthce. IN order to as
sure himself If every part is sufficiently uni
led, Inc agitates his pectoral fins with rapid
IT,, thus producing currents which he directs
toward his nest. If he perceives any portion
OF it 70 be loose, he forces them down with
his nose, and aggintinates them anew. lie
now selects a piece of wood, thea a bit of
straw-which he always carries with his
mouth--and places them on his foundation.
lie thus proceeds until his cdifce is finished
lin which he has taken good care to have a
proper opening 10 admit of the free inrress |
and ogress of the female. And having ali
this prepared, the male, las M. Cosie poeti-
caliy expresses it., } wearing the rich livery OF
love, approaches IA group OF females. and in
pises one Of them 10 follow him. lie makes
Immediately for his nest, as if 10 poirt out The
way-piunges his head into the opening,
which he enlRrgcs in order to render its en-
trance more easy, and then calamity yields
it to his mlte.
He thus successfully draws several females
TO his nest, and scrupulously boards up the
spawIs of each. He is afterwards the sole
guardian Of this precious trust; for the females,
so far from taking any care Of their eggs, are
their most dangerous Misunderstanding the
numerous coalitions whose constant endeayor
II is 10 plliage The nest and devour the eggs.
l. may readily De imagined, then, that his is
no easy task. And when, at last, The little
ones are Matched, he still continues 10 watch
the nest, and does not give them their liberty
until They are strong enough to defend them
selves.-tOnr. g. PaJ!.
4"
The MIsERIEs OF BEING A CANp,DATr
FOR OFFIcE.-An Ohio paper relates the fol-
lowing aneedote of an inexperienced candid
ate for office ave once had a fellow stu
dent, who after no graduated entered upon
the practice of medicine, with very fair pros
poets, but in an evil hour he consented to be-
a candidate for election to the State Lee
He was a man of good natural
endowmenls, and competent literary oduca-
ton. He had prepared himself for his pro-
tession by close application to study, and
had, OF course. entered but little into society,
SO that he was but litle acquainted with iho
world, and had no conception of what he
was to endure in the eleclioneering canvass.
lie was elected hut after it was all over, he
said TO MS. ''lf had known what would
have been said Of me by my opponents,
have rns away, rather than hare suf-
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