Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-12-05
Language of Animals.

An old goose, that had been for fortnight
Matching in farmers kitchen, was perceived
on sudden TO be taken violently ILL., She
soon after left the nest. and repaired to an out.
house, where there was young goose of the
first year. which she brought with her into
the kitchen. sal'fhe young one immediately
scrambled into the old ones nest, sat, hatched.
and afterwards brought up the brood The old
goose. as soon as The young one had taken her
place, sal down by the side of the nest, and
soon after died. As The young goose had new
or been in The habi, of entering the kitchen
before, know of no way of accounting for this
fact, than by supposing that the old one had
some way Of communicating her thoughts and
anxieties, which the other was perfectly able
TO understand. This is reported 10 Mr. Lou.
don's Magazine by gentleman named Brew,
residing in England, who adds, "a sister of
mine, who witnessed the transaction, gave me
the information in the evening of the day il
happened"
In the mammalia, the existence of such a
language is borne out by almost daily o6serva-
ton. We have been assured Of he truth OF
the following incident by gentleman who
witnessed it, and who says il agrees with many
other anne cdotes Of cattle which he has heard;
A number of carIle were placed together IN a
field, for The purpose of feeding on turnips -
Two of the number became extremely lrou-
blesome TO the rest, buting a, and lesping upon
them, and seeming to take malicious pleasure
in dis'urbing-in short, playing the Iyrant o.
yer their more peaceful companions. This
was patiently endured for some time but Al,
length sort Of conference was held by the
peaceable cattle; hey LITERALLY laid their heads
together and seemed to converse on the sub
jecl Of the annoyance to which they were ex-
posed and we may be allowed TO add, on the
proper means 10 be adopted for putting stop
TO It. These CaIrle were then observed 10
make simultaneous rush at the two offensive
ones, whom they attacked in such spirited style
as to drive them out of the field. g
Unique esiiOnably there was here some species
of language employed Otherwise, how could
the common sentimen, haEe been ascerlained,
or the uniform movement concerted A curl
Gus question now arises-Has each species or
genus It's own language, or is there language
common to several species or genera? 1t would
appear from the following anecdO,e, that The
latter supposilion is the true one " Last
spring." says Mr.. Baker, of Bedae, Yorkshire
England writing in 1884, san old mare, (she
has, believe, completed her twentieth year,
and has lost an eye) being relieved, in consid-
Grafton of age and !nfrmily, from heavy labor,
was turned ou, in company with a COW and
-four or five hefers into small field at dis
tance from their former companions. The
grass in this enclosure was not very plentiful,
and the adjoining pasture being adorned with
luxunant vegetation, and divided by an indif-
ferent fence, they frequently took the liberty
of irespassDg upon the neghboring property.
This, indeed, occurred so often, that a watch
was obliged to be Sc, upon their actions and
one day singular instance Of animal instinct
Intelligence was observed. The mare,
doubtless tired of staying so long al time,
made the circuit of he field, with view TO-
escape from her confinement, and having dis
covered place suited for her exit she returned
TO her horned companions. who were rumina
ling at lille distance, and having approached
the COW, and gently struck her on the shoUl-
der, first with her hool and then with her head
The COW being reused from her revery, the
loving friends advanced together TO the gap,
and having jointly reconnoitred il, returned to-
the rest, and then the old mare leading the
way, the whole company leaPed over in sue
cession after her,"