NATURAL HISTORY. [Lammergeyer.] LAMMERGEYER, OR VULTURE OF THE ALPS. destroyed, in consequence of the good they do, by consuming the bodies of animals that might, but for THE bird represented above is one of the largest the assistance of the vultures, breed a pestilence of the feathered race, and one of the most remarka- in the hot climates where they most abound. A ble of the class to which it belongs. Vultures are traveller in Africa, having killed two buffaloes, and nearly allied to the eagles in point of size and some directed his party to cut them up piecemeal, and of their habits; they yet differ from them consider- hang the various joints on the branches round their ably in others generally speaking, they may be tents, that they might be dried up under the scorch easily distinguished by the head and part of the neck ing beams of a burning sun, found himself suddenly being either quite naked, or covered with a short surrounded by a flight of these birds, who actually down. Instead of ranging over hill and valley in carried off the flesh, notwithstanding the efforts made pursuit of living game, they confine their search to to drive away or destroy them by shouting, throwdead and putrefying carcasses, which they prefer; ing, and even shooting at them. As fast as one and justly merit, by the voracity with which they dropped, others supplied his place. Another Endevour the most offensive carrion, the name of scav-glish traveller, who marched for some days with an engers, in some countries, where they are never army in Abyssinia, in a different part of Africa, 1 times shaking his head, and pulling with his beak, or sometimes pushing with his leg. ap speaks of their numbers as to be compared to the sand of the sea, extending over the troops like a black cloud; they were also more courageous than "As the man approached, one of them, which some other species, for he once saw one strike an peared to be gorged, rose up, and flew about fifty eagle to the ground, which had accidentally strag-yards off, when it alighted, and he rode up to it, and gled into a host of vultures, assembled to feed on the dead soon after a battle. then jumped down, seized the bird by the neck. The contest was severe, and never probably was such a battle seen before. The man declared he never had had such a trial of strength in his life, that he put his knee upon the bird's breast, and tried with all his might to twist its neck, but that the con They are, however, sometimes more dainty in their choice of food; as in Egypt, where, during the season when crocodiles and alligators lay their eggs in the sand, these cunning birds will sit, hid in the leaves of the trees, watching the females com-dor, objecting to this, struggled most violently, and ing on shore to lay their eggs, which, when laid, they cover carefully with sand, thinking, no doubt, that they are thus safe from all danger, and sure to be hatched in regular course of time, by the warmth of the soil, heated as it is by the sun; but no sooner does she retire, than the concealed birds glide down, and with claws, wings, and beak, tear away the sand, and quickly devour the hidden treasures. Naturalists are a good deal divided as to the faculty by which these birds are enabled to discover, in a most surprising manner, a dead or dying animal at the distance of even many miles. In travelling over the immensely wide deserts of Africa, where there is not a blade of grass to tempt a living bird or animal, and no inducement, therefore, for birds of prey to scour those vast wildernesses in search of game, should a camel or other beast of burden drop under its load, in the train of a caravan, in less than half an hour there will be seen, high in the air, a number of the smallest specks, moving slowly round in circles, and gradually growing larger and larger as they descend in spiral windings toward the earth; these are the vultures, but whence they come, or by what sign, or call, they are collected at a height beyond the reach of the human eye, is still a mystery; though we are much inclined to suspect that they derive their information from an inconceivable keenness of sight, rather than as some suppose, from an extraordinary sense of smelling, which has been attributed to them. When within a few yards, the spiral motion is changed for a direct line, they then alight on the body, and tearing it in pieces, feed upon it with greediness. Some idea, indeed, may be formed of their voracity, when we are assured that, at one meal, a vulture contrived to devour the whole body, bones and all, of an albatross. The natives of South America avail themselves of the gluttonous greediness of this bird to catch it. A dead carcass of a cow or horse is laid out for a bait, on which they gorge themselves to such a degree that they become quite drowsy and stupid. When in this plight, they are approached by the Indians, who easily throw a noose over them; on finding themselves prisoners they are usually, for a time, sullen and shy; but this is not always the case, as the following story will prove, related by Captain Head, and told to him by one of his attendants: he fully expected that several others, which were flying over his head, would take part against him, and assist their companion. At length however, he succeeded, as he supposed, and carrying off the pinion-quills in triumph, left the bird for dead; but so tenacious are they of life, and so difficult to kill, that another horseman who passed the spot sometime after, found it still living and struggling." THE BEAVER. THESE indefatigable creatures generally prefer the margin of lakes and rivers, though occasionally residing on the coast, or rather on such gulfs as receive a large body of fresh water, and are consequently less saline than the open sea. Those who traverse the banks of the Canadian rivers, or the northern parts of Asia, may observe the beavers beginning to assemble in great numbers, during the months of June or July, for the purpose of establishing a commonwealth. The place of rendezvous is commonly the station fixed for this purpose. If verging on a lake, of which the waters rise above their ordinary level, the skilful engineers do not erect a dam; if beside a brook or river, where the waters alternately fall or rise, they throw up a bank, and thus construct a reservoir, which uniformly remains at the same height. This bank, which resembles a sluice, and is frequently from eighty to one hundred feet in length, by ten or twelve wide at the base, is even more astonishing with regard to its solidity than its magnitude. For the purpose of constructing it, they select a shallow part of the brook or river; and if they find on the margin a large tree, so situated as readily to fall into the water, they begin to cut it down. But how, it may be asked, is this effected? Their fore-teeth answer the purpose of a woodcutter's hatchet, and they begin the work of felling at a foot and a half above the ground: while thus employed, the labourers assume a sitting posture. Independent of the convenience of this position, they enjoy the pleasure of gnawing the bark and wood, which is grateful to their taste, and which they prefer to any other diet. While some of the most able are employed in felling large timber, others traverse the banks, and cut down the smaller trees, then dress, and shorten them to a convenient length, drag them to the mar"The man, when riding along the plains, saw sev- gin of the river, and convey them by water to the eral condors, or largest-sized vultures, and guessing place where the building is carrying on. And here that they were attracted by some dead animal, rode it is worthy of observation, that these trees are uniup, and found a numerous flock round the carcass formly of a light and tender kind. You will never of a horse. One of the largest was standing with see a beaver attack the solid and more heavy timber. one foot on the ground, and the other in the horse's Their great object is to select such as may be easily body, exhibiting a singular force of muscular power, barked, cut down, and transported; and hence they as he lifted the flesh, and tore off great pieces, some-prefer the alder, willow, or poplar, which grow be however varying in height, they are uniformly of such solidity, and so neatly plastered both within and without, that they are impenetrable by the rain, and resist the most impetuous winds. The partitions, too, are covered with a kind of stucco, as well executed as if by the hand of man; their tails serving them for trowels, their feet for plastering. In the construction of these buildings, various materials are used; wood, stone, and a kind of sandy earth, not easily acted on by water. When finished, they resemble the kraal of a Hottentot, and are carpeted with verdure, or branches of the box and fir. The opening that faces the water, answers the purpose of both a balcony and baths, for here they bathe, enjoy the summer breezes, and delight to spend their leisure hours, sitting half sunk in the water, and looking complacently over the open country. This window is constructed with the utmost care; the aperture is sufficiently raised to prevent it from being stopped up by the ice, which in the beaver's climate is often two or three feet thick. Should this occur, the busy masons set to work, slope the sill of the window, cut obliquely the stakes which support it, and thus open a communication with the unfrozen water. This element is so necessary, or rather so agreeable, that even a temporary privation appears to distress them. side the margin of their favourite rivers. They sink | the base, and terminating in a dome or vault. But the stakes into the water, and interweave the branches with similar stakes-an operation which implies the surmounting of many difficulties; for, in order to dress the stakes, and to place them at first in a situation nearly perpendicular, some of the labourers must stand upon the river bank, and hold the stakes with their teeth, while others plunge into the water, and dig holes in the bed of the river, to receive the points, in order to place them erect.While some of them are thus sedulously employed, others bring earth in their mouths, with which they fill the intervals between the piles, ramming it firm, and using their tails instead of a hammer. These piles consist of several rows of stakes; and they work on, standing on the bank, as it is completed. The stakes facing the pond are perpendicular, while the others, which have to sustain the pressure of the water, slope considerably; and thus the bank, which is frequently at least ten feet at the base, narrows upward. Consequently it has not only the necessary thickness and solidity, but the most advantageous form for supporting a considerable pressure, for preventing the escape of the water, and repelling its efforts. Two or three sloping holes are also constructed near the top, in order to allow the superfluous water to run off, and these they enlarge or contract according as the river falls or rises; when any breaches occur by sudden or violent inundations, the industrious architects know how to repair them as soon as the water subsides. This is their great work. The next care is to construct their dwellings. These are uniformly erected upon piles, near the margin of the pond, and have two openings, one facing the land, another the water. They are either round or oval, varying from five to eight or ten feet in diameter. Some consist of three or four stories, with walls of two feet thickness, and are raised perpendicularly on planks, or stakes, which answer the double purpose of floors and foundations; others consist only of one story, and then the walls are low in proportion, curved at During the summer months, they sedulously employ themselves in collecting an ample store of wood and bark, for winter provender. Each cabin has its magazine, proportioned to the number of inhabitants; this they share in common, and never pillage their neighbours. Some villages consist of twenty or thirty cabins. But such establishments are rare, and, generally speaking, the little republick seldom exceeds ten or twelve families, of which each has its own quarter of the village, its magazine, and separate habitation. The smaller cabins contain from two to six, the larger from eighteen to twenty, and even thirty beavers. But as the parties are generally paired, it is calculated that each society consists of one hundred and fifty or two hundred, who at first labour jointly in raising the great publick building, of an oily nature. Indeed there is hardly a disease and afterward in select tribes or companies, to con- but has its peculiar character of skin, by which struct particular habitations. In this society, how- the experienced physician can often judge at first over numerous, universal peace is maintained.- sight of a patient. On the other hand, when the Their union is cemented by common labours, and skin is diseased the general health suffers, and the rendered perpetual by mutual convenience. Moder-stomach principally sympathizing, sickness, indigesate desires, with simple tastes, and aversion to blood tion, with a host of attendant maladies, are brought and carnage, render them insensible to the allure-on. ments of war and rapine. They enjoy every possible good, while worldly men only pant after happiness. Friends to each other, they coalesce for mutual protection; and if they have any enemies, they know how to avoid them. When danger approaches, they apprize one another by striking their tails on the surface of the water, the noise of which is heard at a considerable distance, and resounds throughout their numerous habitations. In a moment they are gone; some plunge into the lake-others entrench themselves within their walls, which can be penetrated only by the fire of heaven or the arms of men, and which no animal attempts either to open or over come. POPULAR MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS. The skin is perhaps more neglected than any other organ, and yet if we examine for a moment the duties it has to perform, and remember its intimate relation with the stomach and intestines, in which the process of digestion and application of the food to the purpose of life is carried on, we shall readily understand how great is the importance of keeping it in health and vigour. By means of it the greater part of the superfluous matter, or waste of the body, is carried off from the bloodvessels in insensible perspiration: this is an operation of great consequence, which in health is constantly going on, and when it is checked by the unhealthy state of the pores, the circulation becomes oppressed, and thus fever, headaches, and general langour are occasioned. As much or more danger arises from a too relaxed state; the secretions becoming unhealthy, and the skin itself more susceptible of the changes In the present state of medical knowledge, dif- in weather, temperature, &c., thus giving rise to fused as it is throughout all classes of the community, colds, coughs, and inflammations of internal organs. when almost every head of a family has read some From these general remarks the great consepopular work on physick, possesses a medicine-quence of attention to the state of the skin will be chest, and is able to prescribe remedies in simple appreciated, and we will proceed to recommend a disorders, without having recourse to a professional few simple rules for keeping it in order. man, it is much to be regretted that those precautions On rising from bed, the whole body should be should be neglected, which, easy and simple as they sponged with cold water, and afterward rubbed are, would, in many instances, prevent the necessity well with a towel till perfectly dry; then the apof applying to medicine for relief. Even the facil-plication of the flesh-brush for five minutes will ity with which a remedy is obtained leads, in some be of great advantage, but if not readily procured, measure, to the encouragement of excess, and the epicure eats a dish the more, because he can readily get rid of its more immediate ill effects by a dose of blue pill; forgetting that every such dose thus wantonly taken is weakening the powers of his constitution, and laying the foundation for a debilitated and premature old age. brisk friction with a coarse towel will suffice. The good effect of this is immediately felt in the genial warmth, the activity and vigour of body, and the freshness and the exhilaration of the spirits which succeed; and even if not felt at first, soon will be, if the plan be persevered in. No one need be afraid of this, for even if moist with perThe human body has been compared with great spiration on leaving the bed, the friction increases justice to a clock or watch, in which, if a single the circulation of the skin, and completely prevents wheel be injured, the whole mechanism becomes the danger of cold, to which individuals of weak disordered, and, in common language, the watch and relaxed fibre are so constantly subject. Pergoes wrong; thus all the parts of the body are so sons who are liable to catch cold, and have soreintimately connected by nervous and vascular sys- throat on the slightest exposure, and scarcely pass tems, that should one become impeded in its office a day without sneezing will, by pursuing this plan the others suffer, and the whole machine is derang- for a short time, become much less susceptible, ed. This disposition to sympathize exists in a greater and we have known many totally freed from these degree between some organs and others; thus the troublesome and dangerous affections; there is no head and stomach almost always suffer together, in- doubt that it will check the progress of consumpsomuch that it becomes often a matter of difficulty to tion in some stages, where there are debilitating the medical man, to ascertain which is the real seat perspirations, and often prevent the lighting up of of mischief; again, between the stomach and skin the disease in the lungs, by thus decreasing the sus the connexion is very close, and this depends, not ceptibility of colds. In grown-up persons, of good merely on the general law of sympathy, but also on general health, the water should be cold, both in winthe fact that the skin is continuous with the mem-ter and summer, the body becoming gradually used to brane which lines the whole alimentary canal. Par- to it as the seasons change, if the plan be comticular kinds of food, as acid fruits, cause, in some menced in the spring or summer but with children persons, the appearance of red spots over the whole skin, within a few moments after their being taken into the stomach; and that sallow greasy state of skin, sometimes seen, depends on indigestion produced by overloading the stomach with animal food and delicate persons, in winter the water should be tepid, that is, just above the temperature of the atmosphere. We cannot too strongly recommend the early adoption of this plan with children. They soon become accustomed to, and like, the water; and if care be taken not to give a shock to the frame | take the smallpox, perhaps modified smallpox, by using the water too cold, the benefit they will de- but still smallpox which may prove fatal. Here, rive from it is very great. At the same time we then, are the reasons that smallpox has again bewould warn parents of the great danger of exposing came so prevalent. We say then to our readers, if children, with little clothing on, by day or night, you are imperfectly vaccinated, or if you have had from an idea of making them hardy nothing can cutaneous diseases since you were vaccinated, the be more dangerous than the practice of sending chances are that you are not safe, that you are liable to out delicate children with naked legs and bosoms, an attack of smallpox. Convert this uncertainty into to bear the inclemencies of our variable climate; certainty. Live temperately for a week or ten days; some may be strong enough to struggle through take two or three doses of some simple aperient injury, but it is always dangerous, and leads to inflam- medicine, and then go and be vaccinated. You owe mation of the lungs, of which so many die in child-this to yourself and to your family. It will not be hood, or sows the seed of consumption, which removes much trouble to you; it can cost you little; if you them from the world, just as they are bursting forth are poor, it will cost you nothing; the inconveniinto the full bloom of beauty, and entering on their ence will be very trifling, the benefit immense. The career of usefulness. vaccination may not take effect. Are you safe under such circumstances? Perhaps not. Wait three months; once again go through the preparatory treatment; and again be vaccinated. If it should take effect, if a pustule should be formed, remember you have proof that you were liable to the inroads of smallpox, and should feel as much interested in persuading you to do so. Cold fresh-water bathing is often very beneficial, but as it is a great shock to the system, it should not be practised by the healthy more than three times a week, and, whenever not followed by a glow of warmth, or if attended by feelings of lassitude and languor, it must be given up entirely. The same may be said of sea-bathing, but as the temperature is more equal, and the stimulating effect of the salt on the skin prevents chilling, it may be used with advantage when the fresh-water bath would be highly injurious. The best time for either is before breakfast; it is improper after a full meal, as the shock and reaction following interfere much with the progress of digestion. It should also be abstained from when fatigued from any cause. The shower-bath may also be used by persons in health without fear, so long, at least, as the feelings after taking it are of a pleasurable description; and as it is the most easily procured, it is a pity that it is not in more general use. Indeed, there can be no doubt that, however used, whether by sponging, or the shower-bath, or immersion, cold water excites the action of the vessels of the skin, gives them tone, enables them to resist the influence of the ordinary vicissitudes of the weather, and thus wards off disease to a very remarkable extent. THE SMALLPOX is now rife among us. The disease, it is true, is usually of a mild character, but it is nevertheless a formidable, a troublesome, a disfiguring disease; and one which is never without some risk, under any circumstances, however felici tous. We shall conclude these observations with Dr. George Gregory's able description of the perfect vaccine pustule, abridged from the "Cyclopædia of Practical Medicine." "The perfect vaccine pustule. On the second day after vaccination, the incised part feels elevated, is somewhat raised above the level of the parts around it; on the fifth day, a distinct vesicle is formed, having an elevated edge and a depressed centre; on the eighth day, the vesicle is distended with clear lymph, is circular, and is either of a pearl-white, or slightly yellow colour; it is like a smallpox pustule, having a turgid, firm, shining, wheel-shaped margin. A reddish areola, or inflamed ring, now (eighth evening) forms around the pustule, from one to three inches in diameter; and on the tenth day, there is beneath this areola considerable hardness and swelling of the cellular tissue. On the eleventh day this begins to subside, leaving two or three concentrick circles of a bluish tinge. Meanwhile, the vesicle has burst and its surface has become of a brownish colour. The lymph that remains, becomes opaque and concretes, and the vesicle, about the end of the second week, is converted into a hard round scab, having a red brown colour. The scab contracts, falls off about the twenty-first day, leaving a permanent, depressed, striated and indented cicatrix. "The imperfect pustule is highly irritable, is permaturely efflorescent, advances too rapidly, attaining its height on the fifth day. It is acuminated and conoidal, more like a festering sore. The succeeding scab is small, and it drops off about the tenth day." The introduction of vaccination has, it is true, counteracted, in an almost incredible degree, the ravages which this disease formerly made. Under its protecting influence the smallpox gradually disappeared, very little was seen of it, and it consequently became almost forgotten. Every child was vaccinated, and parents thought that all was safe. But, unfortunately, they were too easily satisfied; they saw a pustule and thought it enough, without heeding whether the pustule was perfect, or thinking Light.-One of the most curious properties of it of much moment if it was prematurely broken. In bodies, is their power of absorbing light. Charcoal this state are now thousands of our fellow-country- is the most absorptive of all. Even the most transmen. Again: It is now thought by many that the parent bodies in nature, air and water, when in suffiprotection that the vaccine lymph affords is not per- cient thickness, are capable of absorbing a great manent. Its power is thought to be exhausted by dis- quantity of light. Sir I. Newton concluded, "that eases in which the skin becomes affected, also by the the colours of natural bodies themselves, but arise changes produced in the system by puberty: hence from the disposition of the particles of each body, an individual even may have had kine-pock regular- to stop or absorb certain rays; and thus to reflect ly, and yet, after suffering from scarlet-fever, more copiously the rays which are not thus absorbmeasles, &c., or severe typhus fever, be liable to ed." Dr. Brewster. |