4 LEAVES FROM THE 



fore-paws, wliicli he closed on them much as a basket- 

 maker would do when trying a twig, though less perfectly 

 of course. 



An animal so sociable in his habits ought to be affec- 

 tionate; and very affectionate the beaver is said to be. 

 Drage mentions two young ones, which were taken alive 

 and brought to a neighbouring factory in Hudson's Bay, 

 where they throve very fast until one of them was killed 

 accidentally. The survivor instantly felt the loss, began 

 to moan, and abstained from food till it died. Mr. Bullock 

 mentioned to me a similar instance which fell under his 

 notice in North America. A male and female were kept 

 together in a room, where they lived happily till the 

 male was deprived of his partner by death. For a day 

 or two he appeared to-be hardly aware of his loss, and 

 brought food and laid it before her ; at last, finding that 

 she did not stir, he covered her body with twigs and 

 leaves, and was in a pining state when Mr. Bullock lost 

 sight of him. 



With no slight regret I must add a third example in 

 the death of my pet. The housekeeper was very fond 

 of Binny, always consulting his comforts and appetite, 

 making his bed warm, and treating him frequently to 

 Sally Lunns and plum-cake, till he became the most 

 plump and sleek of beavers; and the attachment was 

 reciprocal. At last, on the writer's departure from 

 London for some time, it was thought that Binny, who had 

 grown excessively fat, would be the better for exercise 

 and change of air, and would be more comfortable if 

 sent to pay a visit to the Tower of London, and expatiate 

 there. Mr. Cops, the keeper of the lions, kindly under- 

 took to take care of him. He was suffered to go at 

 large, and had every accommodation, but soon began to 

 lose his appetite. In vain did his kind host try 

 every delicacy to tempt his guest. With the exception 

 of a few raisins, the dejected animal would eat nothing, 



