€i)c i^avmcr'e iiUtutQl n bisitor. 



131 



liij onliiiaiy firess ; ii reli^'ioiis dcvolee ii|>i)ii liis 

 liiiei^-, :i siliiku jiiL't'lcr :iii<l :i sciivi^iifr, eiicli iji 

 their !ici-iistoii!c(l costiiiiifs. Slniiiliiij; iiminid 

 the ii|):irtiiieiit in <littVrent |)osliires, tire iiicr- 

 cli.-iiits (if the Eicst ill their ii|i|im|iriiile yiirlis. 

 BMil whirh iiii|M(>s the niiiul not less hy then- 

 flri>>! Ih.'iii hy their pernliiir eoiniieiiiinces. Bm 

 the nK)>l iiitere.-iinir ohjeeiri ill that (lart of the 

 rolleciinn— intere.sliiig iioin the (iiet of our new 

 reltitions with the ('hinese emiiire — are the vari- 

 ous snhjects of thatronntry vv.hicli are eiiiiiieiitly 

 life-fike, aniniij; uhiim, the niaiiflariii, in hhie 

 silk rohe, slifl' with frohl oiiihriii(l>'ry, appears the 

 most coiisiiii-uoiis. In the oa.-es ivliieh liorder 

 the roniii lire varions sniaher ti:.'nres of the same 

 nation, ein|iln\eil in ifK'l'i'rcnt neenpations, which 

 are equally interestin;.' with ihe larger forms. 



The models of various ships wliieli from time 

 to time have plied from the port of Salcin, are 

 conspienoiis ohjeels ill the hall, surrnimded l>y 

 parts (d' the s-keleions of sea animals, and those 

 of the land; the whale, »lie iiiammolh, the rlii- 

 iinceros, and others of smaller size enrlosed in 

 fflass cases or in lioltles. Among other iiitiMcst- 

 iui£ arlieles are twi) ivory lialls, so carved, that 

 there appear twelve or Unirteen enclosed in the 

 outer one. which is formed of one entire piece of 

 the same material. But the most intercsliii^' 

 part of the colleclinii is a carveil hex of ancient 

 workinanshio, presented to the E.ist India Ma- 

 rine Society hy Elias Hasket Derhy.and fiiven to 

 hitn liy a •lenlleiiiaii of Westpli.-dla, then tr;ivel- 

 hiii in our own country, who procured it in lial', 

 where it was executed, as is snpposeil, hy a monk 

 ns early as the fonrteenlh century. The ijlohe is 

 of hnxwood, and measures two inches and a six- 

 teenih of an inch in diameter. The tipper half 

 ronlains a carved lepre.seiitalioil of the celestial 

 reirion, comprisinsr fifty-eiidit whole len;.^!! fi^'- 

 iires, while the lower is designed to exhihit the 

 resmreclion, da.y of jndiniienl, .'iikI piiriiatory ; 

 and here there are tweiity-ei<.'lit whole length, 

 nineteen half hn^th fit'iires, and five heads; in 

 all, fi'iv-two. Ill all, there are one hundred and 

 ten figine.s, v^llicdl, fe.p.n through a iiia<jnifyinjr 

 fjlass, exhilvit strikins expressimiH. With the hox 

 is a p.imphlet containinjr a description of this very 

 exiraoifliiiary article. The collcclion of liiids, 

 althonsh not as extensive as in many other imi- 

 seiiins of our own country, is still interesting. 



The cahinet of shells is of some value, and 

 indeed the opportimilies enjoyed by the im\i- 

 pators fioiii that port, to cidlect S|iecinie(is of 

 this character, were favnralile, and they a|ipe;ir 

 to have improved them to ureal advantage. They 

 are here arranged ill scientific order, and are 

 classified according.' to their genera and species. 

 Nor is the cnllei-iion of coin less inlei esling than 

 the other ]iarls(if theexhihilioii. Some of those 

 coins were purchased, while others were granted 

 as donations lo the society, and the dates of a few 

 extend hack to the yearl'Ol.T B.C. Among them 

 tire the cmreiicy of Rome, Sp;iin, France, Por- 

 tugal, Anstri.i, Russia, Holland, Java, C'e\loii, 

 Denmark, England, and the early colonial cur- 

 rency of onr own coiintiT. Added to these, are 

 contained in the eolleciioii niiiuerons hills sliou- 

 iiig the paper currency of foreiiin countries, as 

 iilso tin' continental paper currency of our own. 



A most useful pan of the insliliition is the list 

 of the journals of the voyaL'es presented to the 

 society hy its mendiers. L'lider the fourteenth 

 article of its l.iws, every mcmher hound to sen is 

 entitled to receive a lilank journal from the sec- 

 retary, ill wliiidi he is required to enter the oc- 

 cnrreiK'is of the voyagi-, and particularly his 

 ohseivalions ol' the variations oj' the conqiass, 

 hearings and distaitres of capes and headlands, 

 of the lalilnde mid longitude of ports, islands, 

 rocks, and shoals, and of soundings, tides, and 

 currents, and, on his return, to tieliver it to the 

 inspector of the journals for the use of the so- 

 ciety. Ill conformity to this rule, a iriass o( 

 journals has hi en accumulated, which is calcii- 

 ialefl lo throw some light upon the regiiui nnvi- 

 gaied hy Ihe mariner.'. VVc have, in those jour- 

 nals, carefully prepared acconnis of the numer- 

 ous voyasres made hy the navigators from the 

 port of Palein to the East, extending hack as far 

 as the year 170?, which fiirnisli important matter 

 for future reference, hesides sailing directions for 

 many places and coasts ; the modes of transact- 

 ing hiisineps in several of the native ports of the 

 East Indies, with an account of the weights, 

 coins, exports and imports, together w ith eoine 



of the most interesting coiiiiiiurcial oirctimstuii- 

 ces connected with thr)se plaircs. 



'L'lie various o'jccts arr.iiigeil around the hall 

 could scarcely he emimeraled within the com- 

 pass of a volume. .VfPuiliiig mailer ol' study to 

 ihe man of science, and amusemeiil to Ihe mere 

 traveller, they extend to every depariment of re- 

 search, animal, mineral, and vegetahle, as well 

 as to woi'ks of art — civilized and harharons — the 

 large as well as minute. 'I'lie upper shelves of 

 the hall are adorned with the hiists of <lislin- 

 L'uishiMl individuals, aiuoiig vvhiidi stand (uit most 

 conspicuously those of our own Washington .-ind 

 the Adamses; and ahnve all, looks down from 

 the canvass llie placid coimlenaiico of that truly 

 irreat man, Naihanicd Bowililch, a citizen of Sa- 

 lem .-iiid a niemhor of the society. It is a filling 

 place for the presence of such a man, amid the 

 trophies of the commerce to which he was ii 

 most (lislinL'uislied heiiefiictor. It may not, per- 

 haps, he inappropriate to conclude this hrief 

 sketch ol' a valuahle instilnlioii hy the recom- 

 mendation to the estahlishmeiit of siniil.ir socie- 

 ties in our more prominent sea-port towns. i\u- 

 irieioiis opportimilies are presented lo the mari 

 tiers of our coiiulry, in their successive voyage.-:, 

 to collect maii'rials for similar cahinet.*, and, hy 

 the ilifi'usioii of a right spirit among their nieni- 

 hers, they may he made to suhserve important 

 ohjeels, teiidiiig to increase the means of intcdli- 

 geiice and to improvo ihe condition of those who 

 navigate the ocean. 



For the F.inner's IMiinthly Visitor. 

 The ^Vood Thiash. 



This is one of the most charming and delight- 

 ful hirds known in this coiiutiy. It is of the 

 same liimily, and so much resemhles the ground 

 thrush, (u' what is commonly callml here ihe red 

 thrasher, iis to he very fr(M]iien[ly misiakeii liir 

 that hird : hut its music is very dissimilar, and 

 the hours of performance also vary. The back, 

 top ol the head, and upper parts of the wings 

 are of a dark reddish lirovvu : the breast ap- 

 proaching white Willi dark spots, as in the i; round 

 thrush or ted thrasher — but the wood thrush or 

 wood robin is every way a smallfcr bird. 



Quilling the similarity of appearance, if we 

 lurii lo the haunts and hnhits of the two hints, 

 these also do not materially vary. Both build 

 their nesis (Ui hushes, generally in some thick 

 copse or cluster near a small sire;im, and are ac- 

 tive and skilful in making ihi ir way, almost un- 

 seen, through theiii, near to the ground. In their 

 food also, which consists id' insects and berries, 

 they are still the same. But the wood ndiiii— for 

 that name pleases us best — selects the upper 

 branches of a high tree for the pouring out of 

 his sweet music. He is reslless and fanciful, aial 

 often changes his perch from tree to Iree ; and 

 here he iliftLU's from the ground thrush, who 

 generally occupies ihe top of a liiisli or tree of 

 medimii size lor his perfiirinances. The wood 

 lohiu coiiiuienccs with the uid.acing of tin; east, 

 while the waning inonn slill casts her shadow. 

 He hails the coming day with his iiialiu song, 

 which consists <d' only three changes — first, 

 someihiug like the banging bird : then a rich 

 warble, reseudiling the German flule in a trill ; 

 then changing to the nolo re.seiijhiing in some 

 respects the red-winged black bird, but liilling 

 with a cadence, that leaves the anxious listener 

 wilh a sort of suppressed hreathiiig to catidi the 

 d^iiig fidl. The rich and peciilkir fulness of the 

 flute note or ch;iiige, has, in the opinion of the 

 admirers of the wood rtdiiii, no equal ainoiig the 

 (i.'athered liilie. Here the gnuiiid thrush is un- 

 like him — fill- his siuig is in liu- more varied iiuiii- 

 liers and change's, and juslly places him along 

 with the cat bird, as one of tht- liesl singers ; hut 

 he never so enchains the ear with atteiilion as 

 the wooil robin. The red thras-lisr delights; ibe 

 wood robin ahsorh.s us. The killer may have 

 some advantage, from the time of his siiming, 

 over tlieliirmer; iis he comuiences at early dawn 

 and continues ill the early part of the day ; he is 

 not always, hut most frequently, silent at noon ; 

 anil after the sun fidls, he fiillows ibe paiting il.iy 

 with his rich tones until twilight has f.ided froiii 

 the west. 



This breathing of miLsie in the still, solemn 



evening, attracts tittention ami impresses bis 



tiierils oil the mi'iiiory. The ground thrush or 



red thrasher is neither so early or so late a soiig- 



1 ster, but jjives out hie iiioeking-bird chorus at the 



time when other birds aro generally chanting, 

 ami every goose is cackling ; hence the perfor- 

 iiianee may lose its due credit, from nqif4)ein!; 

 so liivorably timed. The wood rohiu is rather a 

 rare bird with us in Nosv England, and appears 

 lo prefer the climate of Pennsii Ivauia, Marvlaiid, 

 and Virjiuia, where a pair iii.iy be found in al- 

 most every little forest surrounded by ciiliivalioii. 

 Here, many, even in the country, have never par- 

 liculaily noiiced this bird, coutiiuudiug him wilh 

 the oiher already mentioned ; hut in those States 

 tiirlher soiiih, the ground thriisli is rare exce|)t 

 during these.isons of migration — in spring to the 

 noitli, and in the fall, to the soiilli ; ,-ind hence the 

 wood robin, who remains there during the snin- 

 iner. is a noticed and noted favorite. 



The plumage (d' our hirds generally surpasses 

 in beauty and bright coloring, thosi; of Europe. 

 Not less is the su|>eriority of their niiisic. Those 

 of our coiinirymeii who have been accnstoined 

 lo hear our mocking birds, onr thrushes, and a 

 thousand more, and have read the English writ- 

 ers, in prose and verse, upon their nightingales, 

 &c., are in wonder, when lliey visit Eni;l;ind, at 

 Ihe inferiority of their singing birds. Kven those 

 of the same kind.s, comiiion lo both, seem lo iiii- 

 hihe a superior gaiety and chciu'lulness in our 

 sunny, trans|)ar<';il afmosphere. 



Climate has its influence upon man ; wdiy not 

 on birds .' In cdear skies, genial simshine, and 

 loftier scenery. tJie mind and body improve upon 

 darkness, fog, and contractiiui. Our birrls have 

 become greater favorites than formerly ; and if 

 we will noiice their excellencies, they will, I 

 trust, becoiue still more so. TItey are our roni- 

 panions in our fields — their music makes us hap- 

 pier — and, feeding mostly on Ihe insects that in- 

 jure our fruit and grain, we may well spare what 

 liiile iliey may eat, for the pleasure and profit they 

 bestow. S. J. 



The Coo.^try. — Wha can describe the pleas- 

 ure and delight, the peace of mind and soft trati- 

 qiiiliiy, which the sick feel in the balmy air, and 

 among the grei'ii hills and rich wootls of an in- 

 land village! Who can tell how scenes of peace 

 and quietude sink into Ihe minds of painworn 

 dwellers in close, and iio'^sy places, and carry 

 their own fieslmess deep into their jaded hearts! 

 Men who have lived in crowded, pent up streets, 

 throni;h whole lives of toil, and never wished 

 foridiange; men to whom custom has indeed 

 been second nature, and who come almost to love 

 each brick and stone tli.at formed the narrow 

 boundaries of their daily walks — even they, with 

 the liaiiil of death upon them, have licen known 

 to yearn at least for one short glinip.se of Na- 

 Itire's face, and carried fiir from the scenes of 

 their old pains and pleasures, have seemed To 

 pass at outre iiilo a new slate of being, and 

 i-rawling forth from day to day to some green 

 sunny spot, have had such memories wakened 

 up within them hy the sight of sky, and hill, and 

 plain, am! glistening water, that a foretaste of 

 heaven itself has soothed their qni(d\ decline, 

 and they have sunk into their tombs as peace- 

 fully as the sun, whose setting they watched from 

 their lonely chamber window hut a few hours be- 

 fore, fiided from ilieir dim and leeble sight ! The 

 memories wlii<di peaceful country scenes cjdl up, 

 are not of this world, or id' its Ihoiiyhls or hopes.- 

 The gentle influence may reach us lo weave 

 I'rcsh garlands for the graves of those we loved, 

 may purify our tbonghts, and bear down before 

 it old (■nniily ;uid hatred; but henetnh all this, 

 then' lingers in the least reflective mind a vague 

 and half-fiirmed consciousness of having held 

 such feelings long before, in some remote and 

 distant I'tme, which calls up solemn thoughts of 

 distant limes lo come, iiud bends down pride 

 and worldliiiess beneath it. — Dir/t'cns. 



A Be.\utht'L Idka. — In the inoimlains of the 

 Tyrol hniidreds of the wuineii and children 

 come out when it is near bed-lime, and sing 

 iheir national song, until they hear their hiis- 

 b.'inds, llithersor bndhers answer them from the 

 bills, on their return home. Oil the shores of 

 the .'\driatic the wives of the lishenneii come 

 down to Ihe U'acli tihoiit sunset, and sing a mel- 

 ody. They sing the first verse, and then lisK n 

 fiir some time; and then sing the second verse, 

 and listen until they hear the answer come I'roiii 

 the fishermen, who are thus gniJed by the 

 sounds to th»irovvn village. 



