The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-06-14

SU.loVs FACT IN NATURAL HISTORY. -
Almost all ANIMALS como into tho world COW
cred with clothing adapted 10 their condi.
tion. Man is an exception, because be can
cIothe himself. lie is not. however, the
only exception; nor is he tho only animal
that can clotbe itself. The lsrvn or grub
Of that species of moth which IL called the
"clo,hes moth" manufactures, as soon ss
il comes into the world. a coat for itself,
Of hair or wool, and, for the protection Of
lis tender skin, lines il with silk. This il
n curious and singular fact. II this con,
were the insects natural covering il would
grow with the insects growth, but il 10 ar
tiiicial, and some provision, therefore, must
be made for its enlargement, NJ the grut
increases in size. II additional length only
were required, the task would lie easy; the
covering bcin. cylindrical. all that would
be necessary would DO effected by adding
ring or twoat the top or the bottom. But
the coat 3ust he widcncd, and this is
an operation which is no; so easily perform
ed; but the little insect, as il he had learnt
the art Of tailoring. accomplisl,es its object
with equal ease and success. Il begins,
~ an experienced workman would do, by
making two Sits. one on each side, in order
20 give additional width, and then introdu-
ces two slips of tho Same materials, 10 ell
up the space, but il sees-or at least acts
rs il IL foressw-that il the slits we're made
on each side. from one end io the other, nj
once. the Goa, would fal! of: il proceeds,
therefore, with caution, and y, first Sits iss
garment on escl, sido only half way down,
and, when il has completed tho enlargement,
Of that half. proceeds in like manner to en-
large the other. What more could DO done
BY skilliuI tailor! And. be il observed,
that this operation il pcrformed, not by imi-
tation, Cor il never saw tho thing done, nor
BY practice, for it is iis first attempt. Tho
facts are curious, and worthy Of attention.
MEzzofASrI.-AtR Rome has died Car
dinsl Mezzofanti-the celebrated Mezzo-
fansi, known throughout Europe for his cx-
traordinarv power in the acquisition Of
languages, down even TO the minutest df.
ferences Of dialect and shades Of pafois
which procured for him from Byron the
name of the 'polyglo,." His power of as.
sanitation in this respect was something
like divinstion; and he il likened to those
mental prodigies known - calculating
children" who TO the establishment Of con
susnato mathcmaticisns, leap o. il were at
hound, without education. 10 CONCLUSIONS
implying tho intricate process of their par
iicuIar sciences. A, Rome, where the pro-
pagunda enlersains and trains missionaries
Cor and f.om all parts Of the word where
all living languages are currently spoken,
Cardinal Mczzofanti converted with each
man IN his own tongue and idiom. Curl
ous things sre spoken Of this remarkable
vet lsemingly mechanical gift ofhis. "ic"
il j. said, 1he we're addressed Cor the frst
time in language Or dialect new TO him, be-
listened with wonderful power Of aiicn-
ton, decompoeed tho sounds in HE mind,
searched for the anslogics. and sought out
the roots. In short time MI was clens 10
him; he was master Of The lexicon and the
grammar Of the hilherto unk nova tongue. =