The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-13

nSnlnS eXplOlCS OF Sea-D1ruS, says late
visitor at Panama, is to me at all times
source of pleasure and amusement
but to observe the strange maneuvres
of the brown pelican fishing in the Bay
of Panama is rare treat. In the lurid
atmosphere may be observed numbers
ofdark spots, resembling small masses
floating in the air like notes in a sun
beam these specks are birds. Sud-
denly several of the mysterious dots
fall rapidly toward the water. Down
wards they come like meteorolites, and
with splash and plunge disappear
beneath the surface. Ere you have
time to speculate on what you have
witnessed, pop! pop! like so many
corks, the divers reappear, each with
fish in its beak; then you discover that
the dark masses were brown pelicans,
whose habit it is to spend most of the
day soaring at great altitude, watch
ing for fish.
1t is difficult to understand how it is
possible for birds to descry such small
objects as these fishes from such a
height, especially as it is below the
surface of the sea, and it is equally
puzzling to understand how the birds
direct their course throughout such a
rapid descent with a precision nearly
equal to that of a rifle-bullet, for they
seldom miss the fish they dive for
When success crowns their efforts they
Immediately rise from the surface of the
water without any apparent effort,
swallow their fish, and ascend again
high in the air to look out for others;
but if they miss their aim they sit
stupidity upon the water and stare
round them bewildered. The brown
pelican is a permanent resident on the
southern coasts of America. Sometimes
it makes its capacious nest in the trees,
while at others it builds it upon the
ground, although trees in every way
suited to It's purposes grow close by.
BARLow's PLANETARIUM-Mr. Milton
Barlow, from Lexington UNITED States.)
has exhibited an instrument which has at
tracted more attention than ANYTHING in the
whole building. Astronomers, professors,
and several of the scientific papers have ex-
pressed their praise in the most laudatory
terms for this extraordinary instrument
which shows the planetary system in the
to render eminent service to schools and col
leges, being of easy construction and not ex-
travagant in price.
It is said that the inventor took three
years to make out the calculation which en-
abled him to construct an admirable piece of
machinery, or rather miniature of the celes-
tial bodies.
This wonderful instrument is composed of
two circles in wood, the outer one having
the months of the year marked upon it, in
the center of the sun, and over the outer
ridge the earth. By moving small handle,
the whole planetary system is demonstrated
the Earth. the Moon, the Sun, and Mercu-
making their different revolutions
in the same order as they do in the heavens.
The eclipses, the positions of the planets,
not only at present but at any time In the
past and future, can be shown with wonder
full precision. A French paper, La Propaga-
ton Industrielle, gives drawing of the in
strument, and says, in speaking of its won
derful precision
These Phenomena are shown with a
eiearness and precision we have never seen
beforen
oucn an instrument would require a
soa g'nened report, but as it will probably be
s,,ts.n ~ general use this short sketch will
-0o'''o"rg Scotland Neaos, May 25.
Ing Ang OF Prussia ia HAVING an ;ror
claa Quilt In England, which ia eTnec,od -
DC tne nnest thing afioat. sbe = r. ~ 90 =.
feet In length, 60 feet in width .aa " ~, ue 600
sur aooa' o'voo tons. She will be cased j.
IRON elgnt nches thick; will have two so -
su;u Mount mt coma lily tr Two heavy guns, and