Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-09-04

swallow, tired no doubt of long parliamentary deba'e ilao
betaken himself The pursuit of flies that were ouz
zng about the window Cuviers pupils had placed snare
the SILL and the poor little bird found one of his slender
legs entanged by the cruel horse-hair.
At the cry of the captive about twenty of his brethren
flew towards him. and tried to set him free but in valn-
Every effort only served to tighten his bonds and so in
crease his pain Suddeuly the swallows, as if with one
consent took flight, and wheeling in the air, came one by
one and gavea sharp peck the snae which, after repeat
ed pulls snapped two and the freed bird flew oyousy
away with his kind companions. During this scene, which
passed within few yards of Cuvie and at the same dis
tance as the usuped nest, the tutor remained mooness,
the two sparows stirred their threatening pro-
truded beaks.
Suddenly and swift as thought flew host Of swallows
AGAINST The nest each had his bill filled with mud, which
he discharged against the entrance and ther gave place 10
another who repeated the same man@uvre. This they
managed accomplish while two inches distant from the
nest so as keep out of the reach Of the beeaguered SPAR
rows Indeed the latter eectualy blinded by the
first discharge of mud that they no longer thought OF de-
| tending themselves Meantime the swallows continued
TO heap mud on the nest until was completely covered
the opening would been quite choked up but Tor the
desperate efforts made by the sparows-who by several
But detachment of the impacabe swallows perched the
nest and with their beaks and claws smoohed and pressed
down the tough clay the opening, and at length sue
ceeded in closing it Theoretically Then were heard from
hundreds Of little hroats cries Of vengeance and Of victory
But the swallows did not end their work here. They
fastened to bring from all directions materials for second
nes which they constructed the blocked up entrance
Of the first one and in hours after tho execution Of the
sparows the new inhabited by the elected swal
| lows.
| The inexorable vengeance completed. Not on
y were the unfortunate sparrows doomed TO expate their
crime by lingering death, but they were forced during
their torment listen the joyful song of the two swa
lows the cause their execution During many days the
hen rarely Quilted her she had laid six eggs, and while
she was Matching hem her mate supplied her with insects
for food At the end Of fortnight Cuvier remarked that the
cock was busy all day. in bringing an enormus quantity of
insects his household and looking into the nest he saw
six little yellow bills, all gaping wide for food From that
time became of pleasure to the tutor 10
watch the progressive deveopement Of the little family
Their yellow beaks became black and shining, their downy
bodies were covered with smooth and elegant pumage and
they began accompany their mother in her short excursions
from the nest The cock taught his children how 10 seize
their pray in the air. how to fly high when the atmosphere
was calm and the flies dsported themselves in the upper
regions and how keep the ground when the storm
was approaching for then all insects seek shelter.
Thus passed the summer and autumn came, Crowds oil
swallows once assembled the roof the Chatau de
Fiquanve They held regular conversations, and Cnvler
amused himself with trying ointerpre their language
The children of the nest were placed in the midst o the
troop with the other young swallows; and one morning
took flight simultaneously and directed their course towards
the east. In the following spring. two swallows, leanand
with rued feathers and took possession of the nest
Cuyer Immediately recognized them; they were the iden-
cal birds whom he had watched with much interest du-
rug the preceding year. They began repair their dwell
ing and stop the chnks produced by the winters iIos
they refined the interior with soft dried and feathers
and then set out for excursion.
The morning after their return, they were gaiy pur-
suing their prey close to Cuvers windowfor they were
now quite tame and accustomed to his presence hawk
that was soaring in the pOunced suddenly the cock
lie struck him with his laons, and bearing him off,
when Cuyer fired him with fowing piece, which was
ucky at hand The brigand fell into the garden mortay
wounded the hawks aons had deeply entered his sldes
and grain or two ofshot had gazed his broken
ore wing The kind young man dressed the wounds with
all possible care and tenderness and then, with the assls
|
hen uttered sadly round her mae uterng piercing cries
of distress During three days she only Quilted the nest to
seek for insects which she brought the cock. Cuyer
watched his poor little shng head feebIy raised to
take the offered food but each day his strength vsby de-
cned. At length, early one morning, Cuvler was ava
kened by the cries the hen who beating her wings
against the window he 10 the nest. Alas, only con-
tanned lifeless body From that moment the hen droop
.loc. .ho rains Tho
food which Cuver constantly offered herand literally bro
ken hearted expired five days after the death other beloved
companion.
This little history left strong impression on the amabe
and gifted mind Of the young tutor 1t lead him to devote
his leisure hours the perseverng study of natural his'o
ry and many months afterwards he related the anecdoie
to the Able Tessie paying visit to the chateau
Revolutionary persecution had obliged this distinguished
man to take refuge in Normandy, and accept the situation
of physician 10 the hospital of Fecamp Struck with the
evident talent of Cuver he engaged him 10 deliver course
of lectures on natural history to the pupils attending MS
hospital and wrote introduce him TO The notice OF Jusseu
Saint ilare Cuver entered into correspondence
with these and other scientific men and alter some Time
passed in profound study he appointed 10 fill the chair
Of comparatye anatomy at Paris. The remainder o his
glorious career is matter of history J0Taa
O5. The London Chronicle states that within the last
two years 100000 Mormons have emgrated from Great
Britain the United States, most OF them men OF some
means from Wales aud the Northen and Eastern parts OF
England; $500 left Liverpool in l649 bound for the Great
Salt Lake, by way Of New Orleans.
DEPENDING ON CIRcUMsrANcEs-Sai Dnah 10 Sam
bo as they were taking loving promenade
sSambo what your 'pinon bout the married life? nk
it be de most happies 2"
"Wel Pn tell you, dat are 'pends atogedder upon how
dey enjoy demselves."