82 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Anecdote related by M. Sonnini. 



had cleared himself, was just at my feet. Oft 

 perceiving me, he was seized with such surprise 

 that he remained motionless for some seconds, 

 without even attempting to escape ; his eyes fixed 

 steadily on me. Perplexity was painted in his 

 countenance, by a degree of expression of which 

 I could not have supposed him susceptible, and 

 which denoted great delicacy of instinct. On 

 my part I was afraid to move, lest I should put 

 an end to this situation, which afforded me much 

 pleasure. At length after he had taken a few 

 steps first towards one side and then the other, 

 as if so confused as not to know which way to 

 escape, and keeping his eyes still turned towards 

 me, he retired ; not running, but creeping with a 

 slow step, setting down his feet one after another 

 with singular precaution. He seemed so much 

 afraid of making a noise in his flight, that he held 

 up his large tail, almost in a horizontal line, that 

 it might neither drag on the ground, nor brush 

 against the plants." 



THE BEAVER. 



THE general length of this animal is about 

 three feet. The tail is oval, about eleven inches 

 long, and compressed horizontally, but rising 

 into a convexity on its upper surface : it is des- 

 titute of hair, except at the base, and is marked 

 out into scaly divisions, like the skin of a fish : 



