16? 



ment, where the whole family come and receive thew 

 shares. 



The feet of a female beaver, which a gentleman kept 

 in England some years since, were webbed like those 

 of a goose. The tail was scaly, and shaped like the 

 blade of an oar ; this she used as a rudder to steer 

 herself, especially when she swam under water, which 

 she would do for two or three minutes, and then come 

 up to take breath, sometimes raising only her nostrils 

 above water. She swam swifter than any water fowl ; 

 and under water as swift as a carp. The hind legs be- 

 ing longer than the fore, make her walk slow on dry 

 land, or rather waJdle like a duck. If drove along 

 fast, she could not run, but went by jumps, flapping 

 her tail against the ground. She never made any noise 

 except a little sort of a grunting, when angry or driven 

 fast. As the beaver frequenls the water like water- 

 fowls, may not the castor be provided for him by na- 

 ture to anoint his fur with, and to prevent the water 

 from soaking to his skin ; and as it is impregnated with 

 penetrating pungent particles, it may likewise con. 

 tribute to keep off the chill, which the water might 

 otherwise strike to his body when he remains long 

 therein. 



The Shammoy, though a wild animal, is easily tamed, 

 and is to be found only in rocky and mountainous 

 places. It is about the size of a domestic goat ; it is 

 agreeably lively and active beyond expression. The 

 Shammoy's hair is short like that of the doe. In 

 spring it is of an ash-colour, in autumu, a dun colou^ 

 inclining to black, and in winter, of a blackish brown. 

 This animal is found in great plenty in the mountains 

 of Dauphiny, of Piedmont, Savoy, Switzerland, and 

 Germany. They are peaceful gentle creatures, and 

 live in society with each other. They are found in 

 flocks of from four to fourscore, dispersed upon the 

 crags of the mountains. The large males are seen 

 feeding detached from the rest, except in rutting time, 



