86 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Hermits Operations of a colony. 



their magazines under the water; and during 

 that season,, they become remarkably fat. 



It frequently happens that single beavers live 

 by themselves in holes, which they make in the 

 banks of rivers, considerably under the surface 

 of the water, working their way upward to the 

 height of several feet. These are called by the 

 hunters hermits, or terriers ; and it has been ob- 

 served, that they are invariably distinguished by 

 a black mark on the skin of their backs. 



M. Du Prate, in one of his excursions into the 

 northern parts of Louisiana, had an opportunity 

 of witnessing the operations of a colony of bea- 

 vers : the substance of his narration may there- 

 fore be, probably, acceptable to the reader. 



In a very retired place, at the head of a river, 

 M. Du Pratz found a beaver dam. Not far 

 from it, but hidden from the sight of the animals, 

 he and his companions erected a temporary hut, 

 in order to watch their operations at leisure. They 

 waited till the moon shone pretty bright; and 

 then, carrying branches of trees in their front to 

 conceal themselves, they approached the dam; 

 and having with great care cut, as silently as 

 possible, a gutter, about a foot wide, through 

 it, they immediately retired to the hiding place. 

 " As soon as the water through the gutter be- 

 gan to make a noise," says our author, " we 

 heard a beaver come from one of the huts and 

 plunge in. We saw him get upon the bank, and 



