THE BEAVER. 



53 



This industrious and ingenious rodent is distinguished 

 by a broad, borizontally-flattened tail, of a nearly oval 

 shape, but slightly convex on its upper surface, and covered 

 with scales. His hind feet are webbed, and with their 

 assistance, using his tail as a rudder, he swims both readilv 

 and rapidly. His length, including his tail, may be put 



BEAVEKS ASr> THEIK PWEl.LIXGS. 



at four feet ; his colour is a deep chestnut ; and his fur is 

 exceedingly smooth, glossy, and tine. He has large strong 

 incisor teeth, well adapted for gnawing solid substances ; 

 and so hard, that the Indians formerly used them for cuttiiicj 

 bone, and in the manufacture of their horn-tipped spears. 



