﻿THE BEAVER. 289 



by soaking in water, and thus render them more agreeable to their 

 taste. During the summer they luxuriate on plants and shrubs, and 

 the green young limbs of trees. 



The pond is indispensable to the beaver, for it is an amphibious 

 animal and, although its fore feet are like those of other four-foot- 

 ed creatures, its hinder ones are furnished with the web, which en- 

 ables it to swim at pleasure. When the beaver is sporting in the 

 water, he directs his course by the capital rudder which he pos- 

 sesses in his curious and useful tail. 



In the cold winters of the north the beavers seldom leave their 

 habitations, except to search for green food ; and the hunters often 

 lure them out with this tempting bait. 



Not to add to this account MARY HOWITT'S beautiful lines, would 

 be unpardonable. 



Up in the north, if thou sail with me, 

 A wonderful creature I '11 show to thee ; 

 As gentle and mild as a lamb at play, 

 Skipping about in the month of May ; 

 Yet wise as any old learned sage 

 Who sits turning ever a musty page. 



Come down to this lonely river's bank ; 



See driven-in stake and riven plank : 



'T is a mighty work before thee stands, 



That would do no harm to human hands ; 



A well-built dam to stem the tide 



Of this northern river so long and wide. 



Look ! the woven bough of many a tree, 



And the wall of fairest masonry ; 



The waters cannot o'erpass this bound, 



For a hundred keen eyes watch it round ; 



And the skill that raised can keep it good. 



And yonder, the peaceful creatures dwell 



Secure in their watery citadel. 



They know no sorrow, have done no sin ; 



Happy they live 'mong kith and kin 



As happy as living things can be, 



Each in the midst of his family ! 



Ay, there they live, and the hunter wild, 



Seeing their social natures mild, 



