Year: 1868

elephant is to the point An omcer IN
the Indian army, who was quartermaster
of a brigade, found it needful to put
heavier load than usual on very large
elephant, called the Paugul, or fool but
he soon intimated that he was only dis
posed to take his usual load. The officer,
seeing the animal repeatedly shake of
the superabundant portion, lost his tenn
per, and threw a tent-pin at the animal S
head. Some days after, as the latter
was going with others to water, he hap
pened to pass the officer, whom he very
deliberately lifted up into a large tama-
rind tree, leaving him to cling to the
boughs, and to get down as well as he
could.


1t is instinct which impels the swallow
to migrate-instinet which, with myste-
rious finger, points the eye of the help
less futterer to the luxurious swamps OF
Africa. where its insect food may be
found in plenty, when winter has locked
up the FORESTS of its home, and cast to
the earth the winged dust OF their sum
mer atmosphere 1t is instinct too which
brings it back unerringly to its native
cline: but it is something higher which
leads it to the selfsame nest in which 1t
reared its former brood, and which
teaches it to adjust that nest to new
circumstances of exposure or shelter


It is certainly something higher than
mere instinct which prompts 1t to bury
alive in a mausoleum Of clay an untitled
tenant, or sparrow; which has usurped
the occupation of its nest. The follow
ing is given on authority of Cuyler, and
derives additional interest from the fact
that it first served to draw his attention
to natural history as a pursuit. While
he was a young man, a pair of swallows
built their nest on one of the angles OF
the easement of his apartment. During
their temporary absence, it was taken
possession of by pair of sparrows, who
persisted in remaining in it, and resisted
every effort of its rightful owners to re
gain it. After a time, crowds OF swal-
lows gathered upon the roof, among
whom were recognised the exiled pair,
who seemed to be informing their friends
of the outrage they had suffered. The
whole assembly was in a state Of great
commotion; and appeared highly in


censed. as was manifested by their move


ments and cries. Before long, suddenly


and swift as thought, host of them flew


against the nest. Each bore in his bill


a small quantity of mud, which he de-


posted at its entrance, and then gave


way for another, who repeated the opera


tion. This was continued till the open
4 ing was completely closed up, and the


marauders we're buried in a living tomb


The labors of this friendly company


however, did not cease here they i'm


mediately collected materials for another


nest, which they built just over tn,


entrance to the first In less than TIVE


hours after the, act of vengeance had beer


consummated, the new structure wa


completed and inhabitedOS0 { 0 Z


These deviatiOns from instructive action


observed so frequently in the history o


the lower animals, are at the same time


the most entertaining, and the most con


elusive on the point of the possession 0


intellect. A shepherd entrusted a flOcl
of eighty sheep to his dog alone, to b


driven home, a distance of seventeen


miles. On the road she was delivere'


of a couple of pups. Notwithstandin:


this circumference, and though still


faithful to her maternal instinct, she wa
not neglectfui of her task. By carrying


her young few miles in advance Of he


flock while it was feeding, and the


driving it on beyond them, she at lengtl
reached the end of her journey, as


turned out, however, at the sacrifice o
the lives lof her offspring. A wren i
the Penrhyn slate quarries used to fl.
from her nest on the ringing of the bel
which gave notice to the wOrkmen tina


an explosion was to take place. In OF
der to exhibit this phenomenon to stran
gers who visited the place, the bell wa
often rung at other times. At first tn
bird left her nest as before, but after


time paid no attention to the signal, ex
cept when she observed that the work
men also went away as they had usual


done.


, A horse came home without his dri


yer, but instead of going directly to tn
r stable, stopped at the house, neigheC
t and exhibited other indications of grea
= disquietude This, at first excited II
4 attention; but as these demonstration
continued, aud his master did not appeal
- apprehension was excited, and a persO
e dispatched in search of him. He wa
0 found two miles off, lying insensible
a consequence Of a severe blow upon th
head which he had received by fallin
r from his cart BY no animal has tn
/ sentiment been so remarkably evinoed ;
h by the dog. A poor boy was fatal
T. injured and carried to the hospital. II
e little dog followed him thither, and be
}. ing prevented from entering it, lay dow
e at the gate, watching with wishful eye
: every one that went in, as if implorin
= admittanee Though constantly repulse
+ by the attendants, he never left the spC
n by night or day, and died at his po
), even before his master, Faithful uni
e death r


t Several instances are on record whel
g animals have "played the dead man
+ an act inevitably implying the pOssessiC
:, of something higher than instructive in
it pulse as its cause. Mr.. Blythe relat,
: the story of fox who personated d,


funct carcass when surprised one day
+ hen-house and played the part so we
d as to suffer himself to be taken up |
r, the brush and thrown on dunghill, whe
e carefully opening one eye, and seein
: the coast clear, he took to his heels al
: escaped, leaving his human dupe to spec
{, late on the artistic perfection of Il
: performance. Indeed, this cunning an
Y NAL has been known to submit to
: carried as dead for more than a mile, ii
y atlength getting weary of his uncomfort
: Bile position, or reasoning that eseal
5, was both possible and advisable, he SUI
y denly effected it by a vigorous snap
le the hand which held him. Cats ha'
,r been known to feign death on gras
i plot while swallows were skimmiI
te across it, and by this trick succeed
d capturing some unfortunate bird whiC
y CHANGED to come too near. Even insec
re will put on the semblanee of death WHIT