Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-06-18
SINGULAR PHENOMENON

The New Haven Herald publishes letter
from Woodbury., Conn, giving an account of
an incident SO remarkable that it would hard
~ be received for truth were it not that the
writer was a reliable eyewitness of what he
describes He says:
On the 18th ult., an immense flock of birds,
commonly known as chimney swallows, col
lected over the village, where, by their gyra-
tons, numbers, and peculiar notes, they at
tracted much attention for about two hours,
when they begun 70 describe regular circle
in the heavens This circle the mysterious
visitors, by their evolutions, made smaller and
smaller until it became quite contracted, when
suddenly they commenced descending into
we'll which was directly under the centre of
their former movements. Soon some of them
were seen flying out, and for few minutes
many were moving in each direction, though
the greatest number going in.
While the birds continued thus entering and
escaping, some individuals approached the
we'll and for time stood directly over it, OBJ
serving the movements of the little adventu-
rers. The presence of the observers was not
at first regarded by them, but they continued
their apparent purpose of visit TO the cool
waters for while, when they ceased to fly in
and Immediate y disappeared entirely from the
heavens.
On examination we found the water about
four feet below the surface of the ground, and
the well in every part completely covered with
the birds-many of them dead and others dy-
ing, and all, as was very manifest, having first
alighted directly in the water.
After all had flown away that seemed able
or willing, an individual went into the we'll in
order to remove the rest, but so thick were
the birds in the crevices that he was obliged
to clear away numbers to find places for his
hands and feet He collected upwards of
seven hundred, as was found by enumeration,
and Us many more flew away, before he en-
tered.
The object of the visitants no one can divine,
and hey did not see fit to tell US intelEglbly,
though they kept up quite chatterlng among
themselves,
Santa Anna's Game CockS.-In the pursuit
of the enemy, when he was flying from Cerro
Gordo, several of Santa Annals game cocks,
with their legs tied, were picked up by one of
our people The men were for carrying them
off as trophies, but General Twiggs being near
by, and prompted no doubt by a spirit OF hu-
mainly, although some have insinuatcd he
wanted to test Santa Annals judgment IN game
fowl, ordered them to be Embossed The cocks,
when liberated, much, we suppose, to the dis,
appointment of the General, instead of follow
ing the example Of their illustrious owner and
flying the field, went right into battle and
used their spurs with as much fieFceness as ne
must have been plying his on his mule about
the same time. Gen. Twiggs, admrng the
true game displayed, CALCULATED something thai
was not exactly a blessing upon the Mex
cans, for not showing as much pluck as their
cocks and holding their position little longer
We are not positive that there was any bet
/ ting, nor have we consulted Paley on the prac-
tice, for we know the General was right in
the maiR-Picayunc