ly, he will apply himself to something else, and succeed as well " EFFECT OF OXYGEN ON GLOW-WORMS. It is an interesting experiment (says Mr. Parke to place a glow-worm within a jar of oxygen gas in a dark room. The insect will shine with much greater brilliancy than it does in atmospheric air. As the luminous appearance depends on the will of the animal, this experiment probably affords an instance of the stimulus which this gas gives to the animal system.

A GLACIER MELTED BY HOT WATER.

Mention has been already made by us of the labours directed by M. Venetz, engineer of the bridges and roads of the department of the Valais, to accomplish the destruction of the ice,

which covers the Dranse. Last autumn there remained only 292 feet. The work has re-commenced this summer; but the avalanches which have fallen from the upper glacier, during the winter, have so filled the breaches which were made last year in the lower glacier, that at the beginning of June the Dranse was covered again to an extent of more than 1,000 feet. During the course of the same month the work was considerably impeded by avalanches, which fell every instant, and even on the 8th July, a great part of the pipes were covered with huge mass of ice. In placing some new ones at the commencement of the month of August, they discovered some remains of the last, at more than thirty feet deep. It is truly a war against nature that they carry on; scarcely have they been overcome on one point ere they attack another; and when M. Venetz cannot reach the glacier by falls of water, he dams up and makes the Dranse overflow itself, in order to undermine it at the foot. It is thus that he is continually impeded by a thousand foreseen and unforeseen obstacles. Unfortunately, to this is added the most distressing circumstance of all, that of an illness brought on by the excess of his fatigues, and from which he is scarcely recovered at this moment. But hopes still, in spite of all, to free the Dranse entirely this year. The whole mass of the glacier is already reduced about one

half of its cubic bulk. Ten currents of water at present fall upon it; and by means of a breach effected in its centre, the spectator may observe at a glance, by the enormous height which still remains, the incredible effect which these little water-falls have produced. M. Venetz is unable to comprehend how he had the courage to begin undertaking the destruction of this glacier, but he now assures himself of success.

THE MASON AND HIS SON.

All

The following fact occurred at Clagenfort, in Carinthia, when the French army occupied that town. The thunder had much injured the point of the very high steeple of the principal Church; and a mason and his son were employed to repair it. A crowd of inhabitants assembled at the place to witness this perilous operation. The father, a man of fifty years of age, still vigorous and active, ascended first; his son followed him; they almost reached the summit; the spectators tremblingly counted their steps, when they saw the son suddenly loose hold of the ladder and fall to the ground. A cry of terror arose. crowded towards the unfortunate man who lay shattered upon the pavement without a sign of life. In the meantime the father continued to ascend, performed his task, descended with sang froid, and appeared with a melancholy but composed air before the spectators, who immediately surrounded him. All endeavoured to console him ; but they soon learned with horror that the fall of his son was not accidental, for that he himself had precipitated him from the top of the steeple. "Heavens!" exclaimed they, "is it possible. What fury ! what madness !” "Listen to me," replied the father, without emotion :—

"In our trade there are certain rules and customs. The oldest and most experienced ventures into danger the first; the younger follows. Accord ing as one ladder is secured by cords another is raised, which is at first fastened at the bottom to the top part of the other. Then the eldest ascends this ladder which is only steadied at the bottom; and assisted by his com

66

panion, who supplies him with cord, he proceeds to fasten it at the top. This is the work of greatest danger. As I was occupied at the highest extremity of the ladder, I suddenly heard my son exclaim below me, Father, father, there's a cloud before my eyes; I know not where I am." I instantly raised my right foot and gave him a kick, which struck him in the forehead, and he fell without uttering a word. "Infamous wretch! monster! what demon could have urged you to such a crime?""Softly, gentlemen; I am assuredly to be pitied, much to be pitied; but I am far from believing myself guilty. In our trade it is well known that if the head turns giddy in a dangerous position, where there is no means of assisting one's-self, and of taking time to recover, that man is irretrievably lost. Now such was the case of my son. From the moment that his sight was gone, there was no hope for him; in two or three seconds more he must necessarily have fallen; but before that, and in his last agonies, he would undoubtedly have grasped at the tottering ladder on which I was placed; he would have dragged it away, and we should have both fallen. In an instant I foresaw this inevitable result, and I prevented it by dealing him the blow which precipitated him,and which

-saved me, as you see. Now tell me, you who call me a monster, if 1 had killed myself at the same time, who would have supported his unfortunate wife and children, who henceforward have nothing to look for but my labours? To die for him would perhaps have been the duty of a father; but to die along with him without any utility, is, I believe, what neither religion nor justice require."

During some moments a profound silence reigned throughout the assembled crowd; but the clamours re-commenced; the mason was arrested, and delivered over to the tribunals. He there displayed the same firmness he had shown before the people. The Judges, like the multitude, could not resist a first impulse of horror; but,upon reflecting on the situation in which he was placed, and the motive he had assigned for his conduct, they acknow

ledged that his reasoning, however horrific, was just, and exhibited a presence of mind to which, though with shuddering, they could not refuse their admiration.

THE LOGAN SHAKING STONE. Lieutenant Goldsmith and his crew have

Lieut.

commenced the arduous and dangerous' atG. seems quite confident of success, and tempt to replace the Logan-stone. has landed the requisite implements. The Logan-stone is estimated to weigh 70 tons, qual to 120 tons, which, from the nature of the and the purchases provided for lifting are erock, must be placed on a plank scaffolding

to be erected around its summit: hence the

attempt is considered full of risk; but the going cautiously to work. It is only three

adventurers have declared their intention of

feet from its original site.

MEDALS FOUND IN FRANCE.

The excavations for antiquities at Famars were resumed on the 23d of August in the orchard of the chateau. The most interesting discoveries made in these buildings were, a small statue of Minerva in bronze, clasps of the same metal very well executed,and two ivory combs of curious workmanship.

On the 25th of September, a very precious discovery crowned the labors with a degree of success beyond the most sanguine hopes: At the foot of the main wall which encloses the Hypocausta, discovered in 1813, there were found two bronze vases filled with silver medals. The first of a round form, and covered with a bronze patrea, contained 3,920: the second, of a more elliptical shape, and furnished with a handle, contained 2,658 : and 3,377 were found in a third vase of an elegant form, and which was preserved whole. The total number of silver medals is 9,955. These coins, which were in excellent preservation, are from the age of Augustus to that of Constantius. A considerable number, especially the more recent, are as brilliant as if they had just come from the mint. It would be difficult to fix at present the value of this treasure; we can however state that several reverses, mentioned as rare by Mionnet and other authors, are in great numbers. This is considered to be the most important discovery of the kind made in the department of the north.

To the above interesting notice we subjoin the following, extracted from

the Petites Affiches de Valenciennes of Saturday, the 9th October :

A second important discovery has just taken place at Famars, at the moment when the shareholders of the excavations spontaneously doubled their shares. On the 7th of October, four vases of terra cotta, filled with silver Roman medals, were discovered at six paces distance from those found before, and at the foot of the same wall. The first contained 1,065, the second 1,923, the third 1,412 these three vases were of red earth, with only one handle; the fourth, a very large one of an orbicular form, contained alone 5,115 medals; total 9,515; which added to the 9,955 found on the 25th of September, makes the astonishing number of 19,470 silver medals found at Famars

in less than a fortnight. What hopes for the future! One of the red vases is perfectly whole. The medals of the last discovery are larger than those of the first; they are all radiated heads; among them are the effigies of Balbinus, Pupienus, Gordianus Pius, Philippus senior and junior, Oracillia, Severa, Trajanus Decius, Herunnia Etruscilla, Hostilianus, Trebonianus Gallus, Volusianus, Carinus, and others, with a great variety of different reverses.The partakers in the excavations at Famars are informed that the distribution of the lots of medals will take place next week.

-

SPECIMENS OF A PATENT POCKET DIC

TIONARY.

"These lost the sense their learning to display, And those explain'd the meaning quite away." Pope.

Damme!-An expletive of style, used to fill up vacancies of matter, and therefore of perpetual occurrence in the conversations of the high and low vulgar.

9

Dandy.-A fool who is vain of being the lay-figure of some fashionable tailor, and thinks the wealth of his wardrobe will conceal the poverty of his ideas; though, like his long-eared brother in the lion's skin, he is betrayed as soon as he opens his mouth.

Dangler. An androgynous insect that flutters about ladies' toilettes, and buzzes impertinently in their ears.

Day and Martin.-See "Handwriting on the wall."

Debt, National.-Mortgaging the property of our posterity that we may be better enabled to destroy our contemporaries.

Debates. An useless wagging of tongues where the noses have been already counted.

Delay. See Chancery court.
Destiny.The scapegoat which we

make responsible for all our crimes and follies; a Necessity which we set down for invincible when we have no wish to strive against it.

Dice.-Playthings which the Devil sets in motion when he wants a new supply of knaves, beggars and suicides. Diplomatist-A privileged cheat, hired to undermine, overreach, and circumvent his opponent, and rewarded with court dignities in proportion as he is deficient in all the moral ones.

Dinner. A meal taken at suppertime; formerly considered as a means of enjoying society, and therefore moderate in expence and frequent in occurrence; now given to display yourself, not to see your friends, and inhospitably rare because it is foolishly extravagant,

Discipline, military.-That subordination which is maintained upon the Continent by the hope of distinction, in England by the fear of the cat-onine-tails.

Disguise. That which we all wear on our hearts, and many of us on our faces.

NEW WORKS.

Stanhope's Greece in 1823-24, 8vo. 13s -Medwin's Conversations of Lord Byron, 2d edit. 8vo. 18s.-Edmeston's Patmos, and other Poems, 12mo. 3s.-Kavanagh's Wanderings of Lucan and Dinah, 8vo. 10s 6d. Blossoms at Christmas, 12s-Friendship's Offering for 1825, 12s; proofs, 18s-Chand, ler's Life of Johnson, 8vo. 6s.-Amusements of Western Heath, 2 vols. 18mo. 4s.-Tales of the Vicarage, 18mo. 2s.-London Scenes, 18mo. 6s.-Vocal Repository, 18mo. 2s. 6d. -The Literary Box, 18mo, 3s. 6d.-Turner's System of Medico-chirurgical Education, 8vo. 12s.-Bampfield of Diseases of the Spine, 8vo. 10s. 6d. Sisson's Historic Sketch of the Parish Church of Wakefield, small 4to. 15s.-Daniel Wilson's Sermons and Tracts, 2 vols. 8vo. 28s.

The Memoirs of the celebrated Madame de Gealis, on which we believe she has been occupied for many years, are about to be published in 4 vols. 8vo. A more interesting work could scarcely be announced.

The second Series of Highways and Byways," now passing rapidly through the press, is to consist of 3 volumes in 8vo. each containing one Tale. The scenes of the stories are placed in the Pyrenees, Ver sailles, and Normandy; and the heroine of one of them is the ill fated Marie Antoinette, the late Queen of France.

Rothelan, a Romance of the English His! tories, by the Author of " Annals of the Parish," &c. has appeared.

No. 10.]

[VOL. 2. N.S.

THE BADGER.

until they find the burrow, and also

a source of amusement and emolument to the Indians of Bocca Montana Albarregas, and most tribes that inhabit the higher regions of the Cordilleras, from Coro to Cumana. As there are no stated periods for taking it, although in the months of August, September, and October it is certainly fattest, they continue to search for it the whole year round, unless during the breeding season, when the flesh is rank and lean, and the lard or butter, manteca, rancid. In making their hunting dispositions, they form parties of seven or eight, or more. When the tribe is numerous, they will sometimes take five, six, or seven miles in a sweep over the country and such is their dexterity and address in taking these animals, that they will nearly clear it for five or six years of badgers, notwithstanding all the obstruction of brushwood, cover, &c. &c. In these excursions they are accompanied by a number of women and boys, whose business it is to build temporary huts, cook, collect fruits, and lastly, to cure what badger hams and gammons the men catch this is no sinecure, and although they rest during the night, the day ushers them in more labour than comes to the hunters' share. When they arrive at the badgers' haunts, generally in high situations, contiguous to rocks, for the purpose of burrowing when hard pressed, they soon discover his traces by the manner in which he scrapes for pistachios and other oblong nuts, the names of which I forget. They then search the rock 47 ATHENEUM VOL. 2. 2d series.

trees, the hollows of which afford them shelter. When the burrows are in trees, they seldom give themselves the trouble of erecting pitfalls for them, as their curs kill and drag them out, or else they dig them out. When the burrows are in the rocks, they set to work to erect pitfalls, or traps, in the building of which they display a regularity and system that would do credit to an European mason. As the falls are four feet by four in height and breadth, the flags with which they are built are so closely set, as to prevent the creature introducing his paw-nails between them, for his strength is such that he would raise a stone of two or three hundred weight. As the badger's family generally consists of seven or eight, the hunters set as many of those pitfalls in their way as will intercept them, one by one, in making their passage to their burrows, and frequently one in the mouth of the burrow, provided it is large enough, covering them with turf, earth, and leaves over little twigs. As soon as they have made a sufficient number, with incredible labour and perseverance, using no other implements than their hatchets and stone-hammers, the covering-flag is placed over; at the back of this they place a quantity of rubbish, so as to give weight to its fall, and plant bushes so artfully as to deceive a stranger, forming a lane, through which the creature must necessarily pass to his burrow. Then one or two ascend the trees or highest rock, to give notice of the badger's approach; while another

is buried in sight of the traps in such a manner as to be covered with leaves, and in such a posture, as to observe the creatures coming toward the traps, and hurry them into them by missiles, but never attempts to show himself until the badger passes him. In this manner, the remainder of the party advance into the brushwood and then let loose their dogs, who, on scenting the badgers, set up a whining cry, accompanied by the rattles of the Indians, making the badger start, and betake himself to his burrow. Sometimes seven or eight will start together, the most of which are always caught; but should one escape, they again hunt the ground over. If their party is not numerous enough, the women join after the first chase, as the danger of coming in contact with tigers is over, the first noise having started them as well as most noxious creatures. Indeed, the badger is seldom found near the jungle, as he is not fond of such neighbours. Should one escape the traps, which is very seldom the case, they leave the traps set day and night, and a man to watch him, until hunger forces him to quit his subterraneous abode. Sometimes the Indian curs will enter, and kill the creature, if his burrow is large enough to admit them; yet he often makes them retreat, provided they cannot surround him, although those curs are certainly superior to our European terriers in bite, and tenacity of their hold. Whenever a badger earths, the Indians cast lots, to know which shall watch until the badger breaks, leaving him two days' provisions in the mean time, supposing this to be the usual time until the animal bolts. But it is sometimes a toss-up which will hold out longest, especially if it be an old badger: but even here the Indian has decidedly the advantage, as he is known to endure four days' hunger, without any bad results. If it happens in harvest, he is pretty well off; for his cunning makes him an overmatch for the animal, and he always carries the image of a man of rude workmanship, which he sets before the earth, supported by twigs in a moving position: this prevents the badger stirring while the Indian goes in quest of food,

a work of little time with him, as he is satisfied with the first thing he finds: he soon returns to await the coming out of his subterraneous visitor, as the disgrace of returning without the badger is shocking to a hunter, and debars his ever being a guapo or warrior, until he can, by some very extraordinary feat, wipe this stain off his name. They also use the noose or snare to catch these creatures, which is placed across the pathways, like rabbit-wires, with this exception-that the Indian's snare is attached to a spring-pole, that suspends and strangles the creature. The South American badger is larger than those in Europe, and much browner; he is also much easier killed.

Perhaps its habits are the most social of any quadruped in the universe; it is not known to quarrel with any other quadruped; even the fox, pole-cat, stinkard, the opossum, the land-crab and snake make it resign its abode, although it is much stronger than any of them. It also lives in the greatest harmony with its own species, subsisting principally on nuts, roots, and vegetables; and is cleanly in its habits, being observed to perform its ablution while the dew is on the ground. The Indians count two species of it, viz. the Marano, or pig-badger; and the Pero, or dog-badger. I am informed the former roots for its amusement like a pig; they bring forth two, three and four at a litter, and preserve them carefully. Badger hams are certainly delicious, and the sale of them was prohibited but to the Viceroy, who generally shipped a quantity of them annually to Madrid, for the use of their august Majesties; now they are purchased for one-fourth of the original value, as the Viceroy sometimes paid eight or ten dollars for a pair of gammons. The way of curing them perhaps contributed to their flavour, which was simply to rub them with coarse sugar and Chili pepper, each day, pressing them very hard until quite dry. This source of emolument would have been considerable to these hunting tribes were they not cheated and made tributary to the Viceroy, as they had to give him a dozen first, and afterwards take trinkets out of the stores at what