Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-09-26
DOES NATURE PROVIDE A
COMPASS Q

TACT that birds and diffe rent animals find their
way so readily to parts far distant, though thew
are perfect stra pgers to the regions ever which
they pass, as well as the place to which they
Journey; their whole previous life having been
spent, perhaps within the narrow circuit of the
place which gave them birth.
The swallow rears its young under our caves.
AS soon as they can fly, they are busy engaged
IN seeking their food, and are ever on the wing.
But they never wander very far from the neigh
oofhood where they entered upon life. Summer,
however, draws to close, and the chilly morn
ln9s and evenings Of autumn give them warn
ing that warmer latitude must be sought, and
soon these little philosophers hold consultation
and after few flights, as If to assure themselves
OF the requisite strength of wing, or learn some.
thing necessary to their success, they, like Abra.
ham leaving his fathers honsc, Journey south
ward. But Abraham knew not where he went,
We do not know, however, that we can say this
of our little adventures, for they appear to know
well. They do not go as if they thought they
would be pilgrims and aliens in a strange land.
They seem to expect other towns, and perhaps
larger cities, where they can persue their hon
est calling, and feel equal, if not superior, to the
citizens of their new found home If they were
experienced mariners, aiming for a distant port,
and having the compass for their guide, they
could not steer their tiny barks through the stor-
my elements with greater precision
The carrier pigeon is frequently taken hun
dreds ofmiles from its home, and tlen, with
billet attached, it is set free. 1t mounts high &
takes several large circles, as if taking observa-
iions before it commences the journey ;and then
at once, as if it had found hidden track, it starts
OFT IN strait line and the rain may beat and
the winds blow but it never forsakes its course
until it arrives at the wished-for home.
The cameIs Of the desert are described By
travellers as possessing similar peculiar instinct
those used on frequented routes do not exhibit
/ it, Though thern be not the slightest sign Of a
track, they never fail to choose a right line. -
One of the camels, taking the lead, advances at
first very cautiously, taking now one direction,
then another, until he appears to have discovered
true course, and in this he proceeds followed
by the others, and never deviatng from the cho-
sen line, until he arrives at his journeys end.
The question presses itself upon us: must
there not be some pole star to which these tiny
voyagers of the air, as well as the larger wan
derers of the desert look, which guides them
to their desired haven? Can they know the
points of the compass? Is the sun their guide
by day and the stars by night? Or is that cleo
trl: current which points the compass to the
north, and furnishes the adventurous traveller
with guide though unknown paths, also the
director of their course Can they inform them
selves Of its existance, anu can they use it, like
the mariner to tell the way
We can prove that animals are susceptible Of
electrical impressions. Professors, profound in
research, have turned their attention to the con-
nection existing between electricity and the ner-
vous system. We are not speaking Of the mys
teres of mesmerism, but Of experiments reported
in leading scientific works, A small wire, hav-
ing one end inserted in the nerve of a mans arm
and on the other having needle finely balanced,
will communicate from the nerve sufficient cleo
tricity to render the needle magnetic, and cause
it to turn to the north; or, brought into contac-
with very fine iron filings, will attract them..--
Take number of frogs, cut off their legs, place
these together, so as to form voitaic pile, ard
with this connect a wire, on the other end Of
which Isl needle nicely balanced, and the re-
will be the same. Such experiments at once
prove the intimacy existing between electricity
and animated nature.
The habits of birds and animals are studied
by farmers and others; and from them they prog
nosticate an approaching storm. In such cases,
is not electricity the principal agent IN product
ing the peculiar effects which we observer
Are we not even ourselves sensible of these
influences. Nervous persons are much affected
by atmospheric changes, which is owing TO their
susceptibility of electrical impressions. Some
individuals are influenced by the electric cur
rent in peculiar manner. We read of ply
slcian who could only sleep with his head tow
!
and when he retired, he was for long time rest
less and in the morning, when he awoke, he al.
ways found that in the night he had turned in
the bed. and his head was north, He then had
his bed reversed, the head being placed north,
and he afterwards found no difficulty in obtain
Sleep
NAV not the short flights which the swallows,
when collected or departure, perform in differ
ent directions, before they take their final leave,
be their instructive efforts to assure themselves
of the direction of the electric current? And
NAV not the circle performed by the carrier pig
con. on the commencement of its journey, be for
the same purpose
And whv that cautious exercise ofsome mys-
terious sense" by the camel of the desert, before
he takes his Devious way over the tracklcss
waste, if not to obtain knowledge of that un-
seen power which takes the needle, and teaches
it to guide the mariner over the briny deep
Does not the torpedo know at once whether a
body is electric or not and, unless it wishes to
communicate shock; avoid coming in contact
with substances that would rob it of its electric
ity? Why then, should not some birds and an
mails know the great electric current, and from
it gain the knowledge of direction, which they
possess In so superior degree 9-Rochests' Re-
Pubticnn,