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Vol. I. APRIL, 1871. No. III. 



Obsei'vadons on the Beaver of Orleans County. By Hon. 

 Isaac Parker, A. B., East Coventry, Vt. 



Whether any animals, except the hnman species, pos- 

 sess the faculty of reasoning, or are guided and directed 

 in all their actions by certain invariable instincts specially 

 adapted to support and maintain their existence, is a 

 question long discussed, but hitherto not definitely settled 

 by the wise. 



In many acts of different animals it is difficult to say 

 they do not compare focts and ideas and deduce conclu- 

 sions in the manner, which we call reasoning. The bea- 

 ver has always been distinguished as among the foremost 

 of these, which seem to possess this high order of intel- 

 lect. He begins life by searching out a place for a per- 

 manent residence. He is a great traveller and never idle, 



