what he had been told, probably was, that his father had not found a dead locust, and showed him the musical instrument with which they produce the sound. This he did not long afterwards. Here is a pictnre of one, which will do as well, and perhaps rather better, as an explanation to my readers, all of whom, I have no doubt, like to hear locusts sing now and then, and would be pleased to be able to answer the question which Edward could not. THE BODY OF A LOCUST, Here is the body of a dead locust, with the head off, and parts of his wings. The back is towards us, and part of the outside has been taken off, so that we can see what is within. The bowels of the insect are uncovered at the upper end, and in the middle we see two hollow membranes, bent like an elbow, and hollow. Muscles are connected with these, which bend them in and out, and make them rattle. They then make a noise, as a tin pan does, or a drum when beaten with a stick. The noise made by a locust is very shrill, because his two drums are very small. Now and then we hear a locust singing on a higher key than usual. We may conclude that it is a very small one, or at least that his drum-heads are very tightly braced No humane boy will now go and kill or torture a poor insect of this kind, to look at this curious part. Many of them may soon be found dead; and then they can be examined without cruelty. If you look at the under side, you will see two scales, which you can lift up; and under them you will find two holes, lined with something like looking glasses. These probably act like the hollow part and sounding board of a piano, and make the music better. INSCRIPTION FOR A BIBLE. [Copied from an old family Bible, for the American Penny Magazine.] Let not the eye that seeks for mirth, Fix on this page inspir'd its roving look; Nor let the heart absorbed in love of earth, Expect a cordial from this holy book. The upright soul, that scorns deceit and art, The mild eye, gleaming through the con trite tear, The meek in spirit and the pure in heart Alone can find divine instruction here. MISCELLANEOUS MEXICO. There are two parties in Mexico, one in favor of declaring war against the United States for annexing Texas, and the other opposed to it. The election for president is soon to be held, and Gomez, Farias, and Gen. Almonte are candidates. LAWS SET AT NOUGHT.-Mr. Cassius M. Clay, editor of an abolition paper in Lexington, has had his type and press seized, and sent to Cincinnati, by a band of 60 men, headed by an Ex-lieutenant Governor and member of congress! This is one of the most dangerous examples ever set in this country. The anti-rent difficulties still continue in Delaware county. A son of the Hon. Amos Kendall was shot dead in Washington last week, by a young man, in consequence of an alterca tion. GREAT HAUL.-At one spring of his net, a few days ago, Mr. Flint, of Baldwin, Me., caught six hundred and twenty-four pigeons. SMALL HORSES.-Two Scotch Highland ponies were offered for sale in Wall St. the other day for $150, being just imported. They were black, trim and well proportioned, though slender even for their size, being only 12 hands, or just 3 feet high. Two others have been imported and sold. SOLAR CIRCLES-On Sabbath last, about half past ten o'clock, A. M. two white circles were distinctly seen in the sky, one 1ound the sun, and the other with the zenith for its centre, crossing the former. They were of equal size, each about 30 degrees in diameter. FROM SANTA FE AND CHIHUAHUA.Edward Glasgow, Mr. Roussi, and several other Santa Fe and Chihuahua traders arrived at Independence on the 9th inst., in the remarkably short time of 28 days from Santa Fe and 46 from Chihuahua; their company consisted of forty men and ten waggons. Mr. Glasgow brought in $25,000 in specie, and Mr. Roussi, 15,000. They bring no news of importance from the Mexican country. From the time the company left Chihuahua, until they arrived at Independence, they had most favorable weather for traveling-and in this long journey over the prairies, nothing transpired to hinder their progress; they encountered several tribes of Indians, but no hostile attempts were made by them; they also met four different companies of traders on their way out, numbering more than 160 waggons, and over double that number of men; they were all getting along smoothly. A great rush is made this season for Chihuahua; but few of the traders going out will stop at San'a Fe. Goods are much higher in the Californias, and sales more certain. The money brought in by this company, is the proceeds of sales effected in Chihuahua.-St. Louis New Era, August 14. FROM THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.-Her British Majesty's ship of war Helena, of 10 guns, had captured a Dhow, off Cape Delgosta, with 83 slaves. Also the Mutine of 12 guns captured the Brazillian bark Princeza, of 400 tons, with slaves; and an Arab Dhow, with 221 slaves. Information has been recently received of some depredations by the Kaffirs, on the cattle of farmers near the Irish River. A boa constrictor had been killed in Kaffirland, which measured 16 feet 6 inches in length. The Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland, had been for some weeks absent from the capital, on an excursion to the frontier for the of quieting the disturbances of purpose the Boors. Fort Gibson is to be re-built. operations for that purpose having already been commenced. The plan contemplates eight or nine stone buildings, to furnish quarters for a company of troops each, and the whole to be surrounded by a stone wall. The Cherokee Advocate regrets to see these improvements by the government, as they are of a kind that indicate a determination to place the fort upon a permanent footing-an unnecessary expense, that paper says, to the government, a detriment to the Indians, and a benefit only to a few contractors and hucksters from Arkansas and Missouri. Safety in Thunder Storms.-People are often led to inquire what are the best means of safety during a thunder storm. If out of doors, we should avoid trees and elevated objects of every kind; and if the flash is instantly followed by the report which indicates that the cloud is very near, a recumbent position is considered the safest. We should avoid rivers, ponds, and all streams of water, because water is a conductor, and persons on the water in a boat would be most prominent objects, and therefore most likely to be struck by the lightning. If we are within doors, the middle of a large carpeted floor will be tolerably safe. We should avoid the chimnry; for the iron about the grate, the soot that often lines it, and the heated and rarified air it contains, are tolerable conductors, and should, on that account, be avoided. It is never safe to sit near an open window, because a draught of moist air is a good conductor; hence, we should close the windows on such occa sions. In bed we are comparatively safe, for the feathers and blankets are bad conductors, and we are to a certain extent insured in such a situation.-Selected. Tartar on the Teeth.-M. La Baume ascertained that washing the teeth with vinegar and a brush, will in a few days remove the tartar; thus obviating the necessity of filing or scraping them which so often injures the enamel. He recommends the use of powdered charcoal, and tincture of rhatany afterwards, which effectually, in his opinion, prevent its formation. Tallmadge Coal Mine.-The coal mines at Tallmadge, Ohio, embrace an area of about 500 acres. The coal lies in a bed, nearly horizontal, about five feet thick, and from thirty to seventy five feet below the surface, according to the level of the land. It is estimated that there are 200,000 bushels to the ac re. The Tallmadge mines are worked at three different places; but by far the greatest quantity of coal comes from the openings of Dr. UPSON, who employs twenty-five men, and brings out about 9000 bushels per acre. The men are all Welshmen, and receive $1 per day for their labor.—Buff. paper. RECOVERY OF GOLD.-The bag containing $5000 in sovereigns, recently stolen from the steamer Champion, belonging to the Hartford and New Haven Express, was discovered not long since concealed at the wharf where the Champion lies at New York. Some men were repairing the wharf, and in boring with an auger, came pat upon the bag of gold! FRENCH WARFARE IN 1510.-A PARALLEL. A party of citizens and of inhabitants of the neighboring plains had chosen another place of refuge. In the mountains, at whose base Vicenza is situated, is a vast cave, named the Grotto of Masano or Longara. This cave having a narrow entrance is easy of defence, and in the preceding camraign it had served as a refuge for the reighboring people. 6000 unfortunate be ngs had retired there with all their goods; the women and children were at the back of the grotto, and the men guarded its entrance. A captain of French adventurers, ramed L'Herisson, discovered this retreat, and with his troop made vain efforts to pen. trate into it; but foiled by its obsurity and its windings, he resolved to suffocate all within it. He filled with faggots the part le had occupied, and set fire to them.Some nobles of Vicenza who were among he refugees, now entreated the French to make an exception in their favor, and to let them ransom themselves, their wives, and children, and all of noble blood. But the peasants, their companiors in misfortune, exclaimed that they should all perish or be saved together. The whole cavern was now in flames, and its entrance resembled the mouth of a furnace. The adventurers waited till the fire had finished its terrible ravages, to enter the cave and withdraw the booty which they had purchased by such horrible cruelty. All had perished by suf focation except one young man, who had placed himself near a chink through which a little air had reached him. None of the bodies were disfigured by the fire; but their attitudes sufficiently indicated the ago. nies they had undergone before death.— When the adventurers brought back their booty to the camp, and recounted the mode of their obtaining it, they excited universal indignation. The Chevalier Bayard went himself to the cavern with the Provost Marshal, and caused him to hang in his presence, and in the midst of this scene of horror, two of the wretches who had kindled the fire. But this punishment was not suf ficient to efface from the minds of the Italians the memory of so great a barbarity.'— [Sismondi, Hist. Rep. Ital., vol. 14, p. 47. THE HALF OUNCE LETTER.-A writer in the Doylestown Olive Branch has been at great pains to ascertain how much can be transmitted for five cents. An avoirdupois half ounce is 218 3-4 grains, wafer one grain, sealing wax, usual quantity, five grains. A sheet of foolscap weighs 172 graius: letter paper, 135. Small envelope, 42 grains--large 52. You can send a letter 300 miles for 5 cents, containing, viz. the sheet of letter paper enclosing seven bank notes, sealed with wax, or the letter and three bank notes in an envelope. Half a sheet of letter paper with a half eagle enclosed under wax. A sheet with a dime and a half enclosed, secured by wafers. One sheet of letter paper with a quarter eagle enclosed, secured by wax. A sheet of toolscap in an envelope sealed with a wafer.One and a half sheets of letter, sealed with wax or wafer. These calculations are based upon the ordinary letter paper in use. By using very thin French paper, a greater number of sheets go to the half ounce of course. N. Y. Recorder. More than half the embankment for the Northampton and Springfield Railroad is graded and finished, and the rest will be ready as soon as it is needed for the rails. The bridge at Chicopee is progres. sing rapidly. Gems sparkled once on thy fair brow, Thy matron brow is thinly snaded. Thou thinkest on that manly form That stood that morn in love beside thee, The voice that vowed thro' every storm Of future life, to shield and guide thee. That voice is hushed, that form is cold, In the dark grave is silent sleeping. Yet cheer thee, love, look on thy boys, Tell them that he who kindly hears The ravens from their rocky dwelling, Will guide and guard their orphan years, And soothe thy heart with anguish swelling. Then cheer thee in thy childhood's home, Bees. Dr. Waterman gives in the Cleve and Herald, his mode of catching the beemiller or moth.-"I took two white dishes (I think white attracts their attention in the night) or deep plates, and placed them on the top of the hives, and filled them about half full of sweetened vinegar. The next morning I had about fifty millers caught; the second night I caught fifty more; the third night being cold, I did not get any; the fourth night being very warm I caught about four hundred." ILLUMINATED SHOT.-Lt. O'Reilly, R. N. Hornsea, has succeeded in illuminating a shot used in Capt. Mansby's apparatus, by means of which a communication in cases of ship. wreck can be effected in the darkest nights with the greatest certainty. A fusee is fitted to the shot, and when discharged, affords a splendid light, capable of withstanding the power of water. Objects within its range become distinctly visible, whereby the projector is enabled to see the direction of his aim, and the people on board distinguish the light, which is attached to the projectile, should it pass over any part of the rigging or yards aloft.-Ib. The citizens of Wilmington, North Carolina, have adopted measures for the erection of a Cotton Factory in that city. BOOKS FOR SALE, N. YORK EXPRESS AND PENNY MAGAZINE, 112 BROADWAY. Flowers from the garden of Laurie Todd, or Recollections of New York, &c. An amusing and instructive work by Grant Thorburn, 50 cents. The Northern Traveller, or Guide on all the Fashionable Tours. Sixth Edition; by Theodore Dwight, Jr. With 9 landscapes and 18 maps. $1. First lessons in Greek, as a living tongue, by Theodore Dright, Jr. 50 cents. Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, for families and schools, by N. Dwight. 75 cents. The four large and elegant series of Pictorial Works, of Charles Knight, London. (See page 384 of this Magazine for a description.) Orders received for all good and true books and periodicals, by the Publishers of the American Penny Magazine, to be sent by express or otherwise. THE AMERICAN PENNY MAGAZINE AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, Is published weekly, at the office of the New York |