226 MAMMALIA-BEAVER. 



trowel. The habit of flapping with the tail, is retained by them in a state 

 of captivity, and, unless it be in the acts already mentioned, appears design- 

 ed to effect no particular purpose. The houses, when they have stood for 

 some time, and been kept in repair, become so firm from the consolidation 

 of all the materials, as to require great exertion, and the use of the ice chisel 

 or other iron instruments, to be broken open. The laborious nature of such 

 an undertaking may easily be conceived, when it is known that the tops of 

 the houses are generally from four to six feet thick at the apex of the cone." 



It is near their habitations, that they establish their magazines of fresh 

 bark and soft wood ; and to each hut or cabin, there is one allotted, of a size 

 proportioned to the number of its inhabitants, to which they have all a com- 

 mon right ; nor do they offer to plunder their neighbors. 



Hamlets, so to express them, have been seen, composed of twenty, and 

 even twenty-five dwellings. Such large settlements, however, are rare. 

 In general, they do not contain more than ten or a dozen families, each of 

 which has its own separate district, magazine, and habitation ; nor will it 

 allow any strangers to settle within its inclosure. The smallest dwellings 

 contain two, four, and six ; the largest, eighteen, twenty, and it is even said, 

 thirty beavers ; and it seldom or never happens that the number of males 

 and females is not upon a par. Moderately speaking, therefore, their socie- 

 ty may be said to consist frequently of one hundred and fifty, or two hundred 

 workmen; who, having first exerted their united industry and diligence in 

 rearing a grand public work, afterwards form themselves into different 

 bodies, in order to construct private habitations. 



However numerous the republic of beavers may be, peace and good order 

 are uniformly maintained in it. A common series of toil has strengthened 

 their union ; the conveniences which they have procured for each other, and 

 the abundance of provisions which, after having amassed, they continue to 

 consume together, render them happy within themselves ; and, having 

 moderate appetites, entertaining even an aversion to blood and carnage, 

 they have not the smallest propensity to hostility or rapine, but actually 

 enjoy all the blessings which man is only born to desire. Friends to each 

 other, if threatened by any enemies from abroad, they know how to avoid 

 them; and for this purpose, on the first alarm, they give notice of their 

 mutual danger, by striking the water with their tails, which sends forth a 

 sound that is heard in their most distant dwellings. On this occasion, each 

 beaver, as he thinks most expedient, plunges into the water, or conceals 

 himself within the walls of his own habitation, which is in no danger but 

 from the fire of the angry heavens, or from the weapons of man, and which 

 no animal dares attempt to open or to overturn. 



These asylums are not only secure, but also very neat and commodious. 

 The floor is covered with verdure, young and tender branches of trees serv- 

 ing them for a carpet, on which they never permit any of their excrements 

 to be left. The window which fronts the water, serves them for a balcony, 



