322 THE PHILOSOPHY 



funk in the water. The aperture of this v^^indow is fuffici- 

 .ently raifed to prevent its being flopped up with the ice, 

 which, in the beaver climates, is often two or three feet 

 thick. When this accident happens, ihey flope the fole 

 of the window, cut obHquely the ftiikes which fupport it, 

 and thus open ii communication with the unfrozen water, 

 They often fwim a long way under the ice. The continual 

 habit of keeping their tail and pofterior parts of their body 

 in the water, appears to have changed the nature of thei^r 

 flefli ; for that of their anterior parts, as far as the reins, 

 has the tafte and conliftence of the flefh of land-animals ; 

 but that of the tail and pofterior parts has the odour and all 

 the other qualities of fifh. The tail, which is a foot long, an 

 inch thick, and five or fix inches broad, is a genuine portion 

 pf a fifii attached to the body of a quadruped ; It is wholly 

 covered with fcales, and below the fcales with a Ikin perfectly 

 fimilar to that of large fifties. In September, the beavers 

 colledt their provifions of bark and of wood. Till the end of 

 winter, they remain in their cabins, enjoy the fruits of their 

 labours, and tafi:e the fweets of domeftic happinefs. This 

 is their time of repofe, and their feafbn of lovp. Knowing 

 and loving one another, each couple unite, not by chance, but 

 by tafie and a real feledlion. The females bring forth in the 

 end of winter, and generally produce two or three at a time. 

 About this period they are left by the males, who retire to 

 the country to enjoy the pleafures and the fruits of the fpring. 

 They return occafionally, however, to their cabins ; but 

 dwell there no more. The mothers continue in the cabins, 

 and are occupied in nurfing, protecting, and rearing their 

 young, which in a few weeks are in a condition to follow 

 their dams. The beavers aflemble not again till autumn, 

 unlefs their banks or cabins be injured by inundations ; for, 

 when accidents of this kind happen, they fuddenly coUeCl 

 their forces, and repair the breaches that have been made. 



