Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-05-21

VI olIus, explains the latter.
The following anecdote was rela-
ted by Mr.. G. B. Clarke, of Woburn,
to the Rev. F. o. Morris, and by
him published in the Ndturagist:
In the summer of l849, a pair of
martins built their nest in an arch
way at the stables of Wobun Alb
bey, Bedfordshire; and as soon as
they had completed building it, and
had lined it, a sparrow took posses
sion of it, and although the martins
tried several times to eject him,
they were unsuccessful. But they,
nothing daunted, flew off to seour
the neighborhood for help, and re-
tured in small space of time with
thirty or forty martins, who dragged
the unfortunate culprit out, took
him to the grass-plot opposite, called
The Circle and there
FELL ON HIM AND KILLED HIM.
This story was told by Mr.. Clarke
to Mr.. Morris a few days afterits oc-
currence. 1t is useful in this place
as showing that birds are able to
communicate their thoughts to each
other by means of language. Sup
posing that we had heard the ag
grieved martins talking to their
friends we should have distinguished
nothing but a meaningless twitter.
But, even with human beings, espe-
cially those who are uneducated, the
sound of a strange language is
scarcely more ineligible than the
twittering of birds or the bleating of
sheep; and, indeed, the well known
term of Barbarian. e., those whose
Char bar"-shoWs how the sound
of an unknown language affected
even the well educated and cultiva-
ted Athenians.
1t is not likely that in the Ian
guage of animals there are any prin-
ciples of construction such as are pos
sessed by all human languages. But
the same effect may be produced by
different means, and the reader will
see that in this instance no human
language, however perfect in its
construction, could have served its
perpose better than did the inarticu-
late language of the birds. They
told their friends that their dwelling
was usurped by an intruder too
strong to be elected by them; they
asked for united assistance, and ar
ranged the course to be pursued.
Had not this been done, it is evident
that the birds could not have acted
so perfectly in concert.
In fact, whenever animals of any
kind form alliance and act simultane-
ously for one common object, it is
evident that
LANGUAGE OF SOME SORT
must be employed.
Here is a case where one dog saw
another in difficulties, and went to
give it advice. Finding that its
advice was not taken, it went again,
and forced the reluctant animal into
action.
The dog, a little black-and-tan ter
rier, named 'sBeau" and his owner
we're at Pedmaenmawr, on the coast
of North Wales. They were one
day on the sands, and were overta-
ken by the tide, which cut them off
from the shore by a belt of water.
A Matching machine came up and
took off the dogs owner, Beau refu-
sing to enter the machine, Of which
he seemed to be suspicious. The
rest must be told in the writer's
own words, taken from the anecdote
in the Old and Nelo, for December,
1873:
When 1 found myself on the
beach, l looked for my dog, think
ing that he would probably come
swimming after the machine. But
no; the little idiot was still on the
island, yelping and barking in great
distress. | called him for a long
time, bidding him swim across, as 1
knew that he could use his limbs
almost as well in water as on land.
But the naughty animal would not
come, and meanwhile the sea was
gaining on the sand, and Beau had
scarcely space to stand and whine.
Playing near me on the beach was
a large rouSh-haired dog-a sort OF
half-bred retriever, IshOuld suppose.
He perceived the fix we were in,
and suddenly dashed through the
water and went to Besu and said
something to him. 1 don't know
what he SAID; but 1 have no doubt
but he counseled Beau to swim across
to his mistress. Alas! the kind,
brave dos returned TO dry land, but
no Beau. BY this time the sea had
risen round my little terrier, and he
was himself like tiny blaek,and-
tan island.
Now what did the brave dog do?
For the second time he dashed
through the water. and stood beside
the shivering, yelping creature;
then he went behind Beau, and very
gently but firmly
4UsHEH. PUSHED PUSHED HIN,
through the watss towards the place
where / was standing. 40 soon as
they were both fairly in the deeD
sea, and it seemed to be case Of
sink or swim with Master Beau, the
wise, brave dog let him go, and
with a few vigorous strokes brought
himself to shore. Beau, having re-
ceived such an impetus, very soon
presented himself dripping and
breathless at my feet, amidst the,ap-
plause of the assembled multitude.
The brown dog, like a true hero.
made no fuss about what he had
done, aud had nothing to give him
but a pat on the head. His master
was certainly not on the beach at the
time, and do not think l ever saw
the dog again.
In the well-known Science Gossip
there is a very interesting paper by
Mr.. E. +, Elwin, on the habits of
All ant called, MyrinaicG r't9iROdis.
Asin this manner, two of them had
been fighting, one had been success
ful in catching his opponent by one
of the antenng. Ants always try to
do this, as if they succeed, the adver.
sarv suocumbs at once. In fact, in
regard 10 ant eombatants, the result
.N..s,,s. - .ss...-.-- :. 500.