104 NOTES ON BEAVERS. 



The principle of their union is neither monarchical nor despotic, for 

 the inhabitants of the different cabins, as well as those of the whole 

 village, seem to acknowledge no chief or leader whatever. Their asso- 

 ciation presents to our observation a model of a pure and perfect 

 republic, the only basis of which is mutual and unequivocal attachment. 



I have already drawn your attention to the difference that oppression 

 occasions in the animate works of nature, and this because I find m 

 reading numerous authors on the subject that their accounts of the 

 works and their opinions of the intelligence of these most interesting 

 mammals differ very considerably, and at the same time with much 

 apparent truthfulness. I also note that the older observers, i.e., those 

 who studied these animals when their tav jii\<t came into great request, 

 and therefore at a time when persecution had not wrought its natural 

 result in the degradation of the species, give glowing accounts of their 

 wonderful villages ; whilst living writers "pooh-pooh" all this as a 

 legend, and declare their structures, though parallel iu idea, to be 

 slovenly and indifferent. I shall prefer those descriptions which best 

 illustrate the palmy days of the species. 



In the fall of the year the beavers generally migrate up stream to 

 a more favourable situation for procuring a supply of winter food. 

 About January their tracks may be seen in the snow near the outlet 

 of the lakes, where young fir trees abound, their bark now being pre- 

 ferred, as the sap has not risen in the willow and alder ; some of the 

 beavers become torpid during January, especially those living near 

 lakes, swamps, or large sheets of water, which are frozen. 



If February is open the beavers begin to come out of their retreats 

 and frequent any running water near them ; but it is generally March 

 before the bulk of them vacate their winter quarters. When they appear 

 they are lean, but their furs are still good, and continue so until the 

 middle of May. 



About the end of Mai-ch they begin to " call." Both males and 

 females " call and answer " one another. Sometimes on one " calling " 

 half-a-dozen will answer from different parts of the lake. They occa- 

 sionally '• call " as late as August. Males fight during this season most 

 fiercely ; hardly a skin is without scars, and large pieces are often bitten 

 out of their tails. 



The young are born about the end of June, and are about three or 

 four m number ; but whether produced iu the houses, hovels, or amongst 

 the sedge, is not known for a certainty. 



When this interesting event is expected, the old male takes the 

 young of last year (for sometimes as many as three generations will 

 remain around the paternal abode) and retires several miles up a river, 

 considerately remaining there as long as requisite. 



The young at first are called " kittens ;" when twelve months old, 

 " small medlars ;" at two years, " big medlars ;" and in the third year, 

 when thev also have families, " old beavers.'' 



(To be coiLtinued.) 



