OF NATURAL HISTORY. SI 7 



principal apartment, is ufed for coming in and going out. 

 The place of their abode is well lined with mofs and hay, 

 of which they lay up great ftore during the fummer. They 

 -are focial animals. Several of them live together, and work 

 in common when forming their habitations. Thither they 

 retire during rain, or upon the approach of danger. One of 

 them ftands centinel upon a rock, while the others gambol 

 upon the grafs, or are employed in cutting it, in order to 

 make hay. If the centinel perceives a man, an eagle, a dog, 

 or other dangerous animal, he alarms his companions by a 

 loud whiftle, and is himfelf the laft that enters the hole. 

 As they continue torpid during the winter, and, as if they 

 forefaw that they would then have no occafion for victuals, 

 they lay up no provifions in their apartments. But, when 

 they feel the firft approaches of the fleeping feafon, they 

 Ihut up both paflages to their habitation ; and this operation 

 they perform with fuch labour and folidity, that it is more 

 eafy to dig the earth any where elfe than in fuch parts as 

 they have thus fortified. At this time they are very fat, 

 weighing fometimes twenty pounds. They continue to be 

 plump for three months ; but afterwards they gradually de- 

 cline, and, at the end of winter, they are extremely emaciat- 

 ed. When feized in their retreats, they appear rolled up in 

 the form of a ball, and covered with hay. In this ftate, 

 they are fo torpid that they may be killed without feeming 

 to feel pain. The hunters fele£t the fatteft for eating, and 

 keep the young ones for taming. Like the dormice, and all 

 the other animals which flcep during winter, the marmots are 

 revived by a gradual and gentle heat : And it is remarkable, 

 that thofe which are fed in houfes, and kept warm, never 

 become torpid, but are equally adtive and lively during the 

 whole year. 



We fhall now give a fliort account of the operations and 

 archlte£lure of the beaver. This amphibious quadruped is 



Q Q 



