392 



FARMERS' REGISTER— SERPENTS OF SOUTH AMERICA. 



the pound sterling is estimated at .^4 44, and tak- 

 ing into consideration the loss of interest on bills, 

 an advance of 1^ or 2 per cent, would probably 

 cauae an exportation of silver trom this country, 

 and a decline would induce an importation of gold. 



X. 



October 25, 1834. 



SERPENTS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



From Humboldt's Travels. 



In the savannahs of Izacubo, in Guiana I saw 

 the most terrible spectable that can be seen; and 

 although it be not uncommon to the inhabitants 

 no traveller has ever mentioned it. We were ten 

 men on horseback, two of whom took the lead, 

 in order to skirt the great forests. One of the 

 blacks who tbrmed the van guard, returned full 

 gallop, "Here sir, come and see serpents in a pile.'" 

 He pointed out to me something elevated in the 

 middle of the savannah or swamp, which appeared 

 like a bundle of arms. One of my company then 

 said, "This is certainly one of the assemblages of 

 serpents, which heap themselves on each other 

 after a violent tempest; I have heard of these, but 

 have never seen any; let us proceed cautiously, 

 and not go too near." — We continued our way 

 slowly; I fixed my eyes on the pyramid, which ap- 

 peared immovable. When wc were within twenty 

 pace:?, the terror of our horses prevented our 

 nearer approach, to which however none of us 

 were inclined. 



On a sudden the pyramidal mass became agita- 

 ted, horrible hissings issued trom it, and thousands 

 of serpents rolled spirally on each other, shot forth 

 out of the circle; their hideous heads, presented their 

 envenomed darts to me. I own I was one of the 

 first to draw back; but when I saw this formidable 

 j)halanx remained at its post, and more to defend 

 itself than to attack us, I rode round it in order to 

 view its order for battle, which faced the enemy 

 from every side. I then sought to find what 

 could be the design of this numerous assemblage; 

 and I concluded that this species of serpent dread- 

 ed some colossean enemy, which might be the 

 great serpents, or the ca}'man, and that they 

 reunite themselves afer having seen this enemy, 

 in order to attack or resist him in mass. On this 

 occasion, I sliall hazard an opinion which I found- 

 ed on several other observations; it is that the ani- 

 mals in the new world are more advanced than the 

 men in developing their instinct, and in the social 

 combinations of which they are susceptible; the 

 silence and the solitudes of the woods leaving the 

 greatest liberty to all their motions, the individuals 

 of the same species easily meet and species v/hich 

 are best organized, feel without the impulsion of a 

 common interest which announces and provokes 

 to the same end the concurrence of idl their means; 

 but after having acknowledged in animals different 

 degrees of intelligence, sucli as memory, delibera- 

 tion, will, we are reduced to mere conjecture as to 

 their means of communication. It is certain, that 

 those which possess the organs of voice have cries 

 of alarm, of rallying, of love, of anger, and may 

 they not also have those requisite to combine in 

 their chases, to distribute the post of attack and 

 delence, the different labors of their common con- 

 struction, as well as for supplying their common 

 habitations with necessaries. 



SHORT-HORN BULL, NULLIFIER. 



Messrs. D. Gait and H. Edloe, have lately received 

 from England, a fine young bull of the improved short- 

 horn breed. Niill-ifier will be kept in or near Williams- 

 burg: and if he lives, it may be confidently anticipated, 

 that he will prove highly profitable to his owners, and 

 ultimately to the breeders of cattle through that region. 

 No other part of Virginia, east of the Blue Ridge, is 

 better suited for profitable grazing, or more requires a 

 good breed of cattle. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The following communications have been received. 

 "On cheat and wheat" — "Gama grass" — "The time to 

 cut tobacco" — "Influence of the moon on vegetation" 

 — "The fence law" — "On the 'cheat controversy' " — 

 "The pleasures of agricultural pursuits" — "Queries 

 &c. by ./S Lover of Husbandry''' — "On the food or nutri- 

 ment of plants" — As the last piece is "to be continu- 

 ed," it is respectfully suggested to its unknown author, 

 that it will be best to send the concluding portion, so 

 that all may appear together. We dislike destroying 

 the connexion of any communication by giving it in 

 detached portions, and never have divided any, unless 

 when the subject properly admitted of it. Besides, it 

 is necessary in most cases that we should see, and have 

 possession of the continuation of an article, before it is 

 promised to our readers. These remarks are applicable 

 generally, as well as to the particular communication 

 which has elicited them. 



Several communications "On the season and state of 

 crops" have been received at different times, just after 

 the last sheet of the number was ready for the press, 

 and have been afterwards omitted, because the delay 

 of another month had deprived such reports of their 

 intended use of conveying 7ieivs. This will of neces- 

 sity often occur, when such reports arrive after the 25th 

 of the month. 



9C|=A short communication from a correspondent in 

 Amelia, is not sufficiently plain in the directions con- 

 tained to be understood. A more full statement will 

 be acceptable, and will be published when received. 



A letter of inquiry relating to Herd's grass, &c. the 

 receipt of which was acknowledged in the last No. 

 has been mislaid, and its publication thereby prevent- 

 ed. If the writer had not omitted to give his name 

 and address, we should in a more private manner than 

 this, have tendered our apology, and requested anotLer 

 copy for publication. 



TO SUBSCRIBERS, AND TO APPLICANTS FOR 

 AGENCIES. 



^0= No person is authorized as agent for the Far- 

 mers' Register, nor will there be, without previous no- 

 lice being published on the covers. The punctuality 

 of the large majority of our subscribers, so far, has ren- 

 dered it unnecessary for the great trouble and expense 

 of collecting agencies to be incurred. 



I^riutetl bif Mobert Miekclts, 



AT THE SHELLBANKS PRESS, 



Prince George County, Va. 



