.NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Victim of regret Tame beaver. 



that were taken alive, and brought to a neigh- 

 bouring factory in Hudson's Bay, were preserved 

 for some time, and throve very fast, till one of 

 them was accidentally killed. The survivor in- 

 stantly felt the loss, and soon fell a victim to a 

 voluntary abstinence from food. 



The domestication of these animals has some- 

 I'iines been attempted with success. Major Ro- 

 derfort, of New York, had a tame beaver above 

 half a year in his house, where he went about, 

 quite loose. He was fed with bread, and some- 

 times fish, of which he was very greedy. As 

 much water was put into a bowl as he wanted. 

 All the rags and soft things he could meet with 

 he dragged into the corner where he was accus- 

 tomed to sleep, and made a bed of them. A cat 

 in the house, having kittens, took possession of 

 his bed; and he did not attempt to prevent her. 

 When the cat went out, the beaver often took 

 the kitten between his fore paws, and held it ten- 

 derly to his breast as if to warm it : as soon as 

 the cat returned, he always restored his little 

 charge. Sometimes he grumbled, but never at- 

 tempted to bite. 



The winter season is preferred by the hunters 

 for seeking out the habitations of the beavers. 

 They stop up the entrance to these on the side 

 next, the water, and enlarge the aperture on the 

 laud side; after which they introduce a dog so 

 trained, that lie will seize the beaver with his 

 teeth, and suffer himself to be drawn out by the 



