Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-16
A Singular Bird.

been drow ned in the Old River.
A Singular Bird.
There is in the garden al Regents Patk.
London, plain looking, sombre bird, native
of New Holland called the brush turkey.
whose habits of rearing its brood are among
the most remarkable in the history OF animal
instincts. The bird a thorough chemist, and
constructs for itself patent incubator. on
chemical principles, by which it matches Its
eggs III a scientific manner. without the tedious
sitting to which other birds submit. This bird
at present occupies part of the great wary on
the south side Of the gardens on the right alter
entering the gate from the road. 1t is not a
very striking bird in its appearance. The up
per surface of the adult male, its wings and
tail, are Of blackish brown al the base, gong
into silver gray at the ends. The skin Of the
head and neck is of deep pink, verging on
red and ,hiny srrnkled uh short dngv
hair The waffle Is bright yellow. shading
off into red In size its nearl. that of IA turkey.
In general h bits this bird is nothing remark
able; 1t is in the reproduction of the species
that iis anomalous proceedings are manifested,
Ii is "a bel ever in fermentation and cor:peia
ton, for when The br, eding season arrives, n
number of tic birds enter into partnership, and
collect huge heap of vegetable matter.which
is allowed TO fer ent ill it forms a hot bed.
Several weeks are patiently employed in form
ing this heap, but when once formed, it does
duty for several years.new matter being added
al the top as that beneath ro,s away In COL
lectlng, the birds use only the foot; The I'LL is
not used at all The surface Of the ground
surrounding the hot bed is thus cleared of ev.
cry leaf and blade of grass every scrap Of veg.
etaiion being added to assist in the fermenta
irn.
When this py ramidica mound of green stuff
has had sufficient time 10 heat, aud hen it Is
just III The proper temperature for halching,
the large eggs are inserted, not side by side,
bur planted at regular inter, ais from each 9th.
en- and stuck into the fuoty. smoking heap per.
fectly upright, the large end DOWN. ard, and
at an arms length below the surface They
are then CO, cred up and left ill hatched-
Whether the chickens have to fight their way
through the warm, artificial mother" or
whether, as Mr.. Gould was informed, The fe.
males remained in the neighborhood is qnes
ton not We, settled; there is no doubt, however,
tina, in either case Nature has provided for the
safety of the young. and that all its instincts
are adapted 10 the circumstances of its birth.
TIE RELIGION OF THE CHINESE REBELs -
Several English officers in April last visited III,
camp ofihe Chinese rebels and in their acccun,
| of their trip they state at place called Tentoo
| Il ey had destroyed all the IDOLS and thrown
! them into the river. One of the rebels asked ar
officer to repeat the ten commandments and or
his doing SO they appeared to be highly deigh
ted. The officer also presented them with
copies of the Biblein English and Chinese
The rebe Is Gated them with great respect afteI
| they ascertaiLed their visit was not for hostile
purposes.
The Hong Kong Register OF May II, how
ever, prononnccs the statement that the lea
| ders of he movement are not merely fcrma
professors of religious system, but practical
/ and spiritual Christians" sheer nonsense aiIc
| bumlug. 1t contends that the Christianity OF
! these ilen has shown itself in robbery, lcenli.
BUSINESS and bloodshed They glory in stating
that they put 10 death 25. 900 Tartars, without
distinction Of age or sex since they have had
| pos session of Nankn 1t considers them as us no
religion merely as an engine 10 serve their am
/ bilious ends. The way these men became &c
qualntcd with any part of Christian truth i.
said 10 be through DR. Gut2latf IA missionary
who formed among them Christian Union.
Some oil the members of this society .it is sup
posed, are the leaders of this rebellion Tn,
Register adds, there IS undoubtedly grea i'm
posture and wild fanaicsm among them. The
leader, Tae-ping wing, gives out that his orr
| GIN was divine. and asserts that he Is often Ia
ken up 10 Hea' en-, has direct personal com
muElon with God, and is The broth,r of Jesus
| Christ! HIS followers seem to entertain the
same belief. In practice, he has thirty six
| wives
1t Is further stated that the use of opium is
dIsalIowed in their ranks.and forbidden to their
followers. In fact, II is said they have added
the Introduction of the use of tobacco and OPT
um to The Ten Commandments, lacking il on
to The end of the seventh. 1t is stated they have
plenty OF money. AS they were poor men,
they must have obtained this by plumber.
City Council.
! AT n called meeting oft Nh n