386 HISTORY OF 



Itiancbes from three to ten feet in length. Those of the largest 

 dimensions are conveyed to the magazines by a whole body ot 

 beavers ; but the smallest by one only : each of them, however, 

 takes a different way, and has his proper walk assigned him, in 

 order that no one labourer should interrupt another in the prose- 

 cution of his work. Their wood-yards are larger or smaller in 

 proportion to the number in the family ; and according to the 

 observation of some curious naturalists, the usual stock of tim- 

 ber, for the accommodation of ten beavers, consists of about thirty 

 feet in a square surface, and ten in depth. These logs are not 

 thrown up in one continued pile, but laid one across the other, 

 with intervals or small spaces between them in order to take out, 

 with the greater facility, but just such a quantity as they shall want 

 for their immediate consumption, and those parcels only, which 

 lie at the bottom in the water and have been duly steeped. 

 This timber is cut again into small particles, and conveyed to 

 one of their largest lodges, where the whole family meet, to con- 

 sume their respective dividends, which are made impartially, in 

 even and equal portions. Sometimes they tiaverse the woods and 

 regale their young with a more novel and elegant entertainment. 

 Such as are used to hunt these animals, know perfectly well 

 that green wood is much more acceptable to them than that 

 which is old and dry ; for which reason they plant a considerable 

 quantity of it round their lodgments ; and as they come out to 

 partake of it, they either catch them in snares, or take them by 

 surprise. In the winter, when the frosts are very severe, they 

 sometimes break a large hole in the ice ; and when the beavers 

 resort thither for the benefit of a little fresh air, they either kill 

 them with their hatchets, or cover the opening with a large sub- 

 stantial net. After this, they undermine and subvert the whole 

 fabric ; whereupon the beavers, in hopes to make their escape in 

 the usual way, fly with the utmost precipitation to the water •, 

 and plunging into the aperture, fall directly into the net and are 

 inevitably taken. 



THE SEAT,. 



Every step we proceed in the description of amphibious 

 quadrupeds, we make nearer advances to the tribe of fishes. 

 We iirst observed the otter, with its feet webbed and formed for 



