lU NATURAL AND CIVIL 



In no animal docs the social inst'wct and habit 

 appear more stronf^, or universal, than in the 

 beaver. ^\'hcrcsocvcr a number of these ani- 

 Bials are foinicl, they immediately associate, and 

 coiri])ine in society, to pursue their common 

 business, and welfare. Kvery thing is done, by 

 t\\^ united counsels, and labours, of the whole 

 comm.unit} . Their societies are generally col- 

 lected together, in the months of June and July ; 

 and their numbers when thus collected, fre- 

 quently auiount to two or three hundred ; all 

 of Vvhich, immediately engage in a joint effort, 

 to promole the common business and safety of 

 the whole society ; apparently acting under a 

 common inclination, and direction. When the 

 beaver is found in a solitary state, he appears 

 to be a tinud, inactive, and stupid animal. In- 

 stead of attem.pting any important enterprize, he 

 contents himself with di2:2:in2: a hole in the 

 earth for safety and concealment. IS is genius 

 seems to be depressed, his spirits broken, and 

 every thing enterprizing is lost in an attention 

 to personal safety ; but he never looses his 

 natural instinct to lind or form a pond.* When 

 combined iii societ}*, his disposition, and pow- 

 ers assume their natural direction, and are ex- 

 erted to the highest advantage : Every tiling is 

 then undertaken, which the beaver is capable 

 of performing. 



Th e society of bea^'ers seems to be rp^ulatcd 

 and governed^ altogether by natural dis])ositionh, 



* A young beaver was tamed in the soiitlif rn part of this state. 

 He became quiet, inofTensivc, and without any disposition to deparc. 

 But was most of al! pleased, when he was at work; tomiing a dam, in a 

 «raall stream near the house. 



