NOTE-BOOK OF A NATUEALIST. 3 



webbed hind-feet of the beaver turn in so as to give the 

 appearance of deformity; but if the toes were straight, 

 instead of being incurved, the animal could not use them 

 so readily for the purpose of keeping its fur in order, and 

 cleansing it from dirt and moisture. 



Binny generally carried small and light articles be- 

 tween his right fore-leg and his chin, walking on the 

 other three legs ; and huge masses, which he could not 

 grasp readily with his teeth, he pushed forwards, leaning 

 against them with his right fore-paw and his chin. He 

 never carried anjrthing on his tail, which he liked to dip 

 in water, but he was not fond of plunging in the whole 

 of his body. If his tail was kept moist he never cared to 

 drink ; but if it was kept dry it became hot, and the 

 animal appeared distressed, and would drink a great 

 deal. It is not impossible that the tail may have the 

 power of absorbing water, like the skin of frogs, though 

 it must be owned that the scaly integument which invests 

 that member has not much of the character which orene- 



o 



rally belongs to absorbing surfaces. 



It has been asserted, and in some degree proved, that 

 the song of birds depends on that which they first hear; 

 but their nest-making seems to be the result of innate 

 instinct. Binny must have been captured too young to 

 have seen any of the building operations of his parents 

 or their co-mates, but his instinct impelled him to go to 

 work under the most unfavourable circumstances; and 

 he busied himself as earnestly in constructing a dam, 

 in a room up three pair of stairs in London, as if he had 

 been laying his foundation in a stream or lake in Upper 

 Canada. 



Bread, and bread and milk and sugar, formed the 

 principal part of Binny's food ; but he was very fond of 

 succulent fruits and roots. Tender twigs, especially of 

 the willow, were gi'eatly to his taste, and he would 

 handle them very adroitly, dra^ving them through his 



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