178 THE BEAVER. 



tranquillity which it is a pity that human rapaciousness should 

 ever disturb. This, however, is frequently done for the sake of 

 their skins, and the drug called castorum, which is produced from 

 this animal, and is found in a liquid state, in bags of skin about 

 the size of an egg. This matter, when dried, is capable of pul- 

 verization. It is of an oily nature, of a pungent bitter taste, and 

 of a disagreeable smell, but of considerable use and efficacy in 

 medicine. 



The skins of these animals vary in colour : in general they are 

 of a chesnut brown, more or less dark, but the most valuable are 

 black. These furs constitute a valuable article of commerce. 

 Many thousands are annually imported into Europe from Ame- 

 rica. In 1763, the Hudson Bay Company sold 54,670 beaver 

 skins at one sale. 



The Indian hunters, lured by European commodities, explore 

 the inmost recesses of the American continent, in order to dis- 

 cover the retreats of these inoffensive animals, and procure as 

 great a number of skins as possible, which they barter chiefly 

 for the noxious articles of spirituous liquors, and tobacco. 



Commerce, like every thing else in this world, is productive 

 of a mixture of good and evil. This is the case with all things 

 here below. The ways of Divine Providence are inscrutable ; 

 but, in all probability, this mysterious dispensation is designed to 

 teach us that our present life is no more than a state of proba- 

 tion, and to prevent our too ardent attachment to its temporary 

 comforts and pleasures. 



The wonderful animal of which we have just been displaying 

 the disposition and habits, is remarkable for the size and strength 

 of its cutting teeth, which enable it to gnaw down trees of great 

 magnitude, with incredible facility and despatch. It does not 

 bear in its aspect any striking impression of superior saga- 

 city ; its ears are short, and its nose blunt ; its fore-feet are 

 small, but its hind-feet large and strong, with membranes con- 

 necting the toes. Its length from nose to tail is generally about 

 three feet : the tail is about eleven inches long, and three broad ; 

 being nearly of an oval form, flat and covered with scales. This 

 tail, so different from that of other quadrupeds, serves not only 

 as a rudder to direct its motions in the water, but as a most use- 

 ful instrument for laying on the clay in constructing and plaster- 

 ing its habitations. The senses of the beaver are extremely 

 acute ; its smelling in particular is so delicate, that it will not 

 suffer any filth, or any thing of a disagreeable scent, to remain 

 in, or near, its apartments. 



There are, at present, in the menagerie at Exeter 'Change, 

 two male beavers, which are very tame, and will even suffer 

 strangers to handle them. They frequently sit upright, to eat, or 



