ANIMAI-S. 381 



THE LEAVER. 



In all countries, as man is civilized and improved, the lower 

 ranks ai-e repressed and degraded.^ Either reduced to servi- 

 tude, or treated as rebels, all their societies are dissolved, 

 and all their united talents rendered ineffectual. Their fee- 

 ble arts quickly disappear, and nothing remains but their 

 solitary instincts, or those foreign habitudes which they re- 

 ceive from human education. For this reason there remain 

 no traces of their ancient talents and industry, except in those 

 countries where man himself is a stranger ; where unvisited 

 by his controlling power, for a long succession of ages, their 

 little talents have had time to come to their limited perfec- 

 tion, and their common designs have been capable of being 

 united. 



The beaver seems to be now the only remaining monument 

 of brutal society. From the result of its labours, which are still 

 to be seen in the remote parts of America, we learn how far in- 

 stinct can be aided by imitation. We from thence perceive to 

 what a degree animals, without language or reason, can concur 

 fur their mutual advantage, and attain by numbers those ad- 



paro for deatli. But if they are fortunate enough to escape their pursuer, 

 they deride hiiu as soon as they are safe in the sea, with various diverting 

 tricks ; at one time keeping: tliemselves on end in the water, and jumping 

 over the waies, liolding tlio fore paw over tlic eyes, as if to sliade them 

 from the sun while looking out for their enemy ; tlien lying flat on their 

 back, and stroking tlieir belly ; then throwing their young down into the 

 water, and fetch them up again. In their escape they carry the sucklings 

 in their mouths, and drive before them those that are full-grown. 'I'lie 

 skins of the sea otters are of great value, and have long formed a consider • 

 able export from Russia. They are disposed of to the Chinese at the rate of 

 eighty or a hundred rubles each.— The trade for this fur at Nootka had, 

 not many years ago, nearly produced a war between Great Britain and 

 Spain. These animals are found on the coast of Kamtschatka, and in the 

 adjacent islands, as well as on the opposite coasts of America ; but they are 

 confined within a very few degrees of latitude. 



The Cayenne OUei:— The toes on the fore-feet are unconnected ; the tail 

 is long, taper, and naked. It inhabits Cayenne ; it is about seven inche.i 

 in length. '1 he body with large broAvnish-black spots ; it is of a yellowish 

 grey colour between ; the under parts are white ; over each eye is a white 

 ; spot ; the ears are large and round ; the mouth is whiskered ; the tail is 

 round above, flat beneath, and of a whitish colour at the tip. It is covered 

 with a rough grauulated skin. 



2Buiroa. 



