CASTOR. 



and they always beg-in their operations 

 on the trunk, 'at nearly two feet above 

 the ground ; nor do they ever desist from 

 the process till its fall is completed. They 

 sit instead of standing at this labour, and 

 while reducing 1 the tree to the ground 

 derive a pleasure at once from the success 

 of their toils, and from the gratification of 

 their palate and appetite by the bark, 

 which is a favourite species of food to 

 them, as well as the young and tender 

 parts of the wood itself. 



For their support in winter ample stores 

 are laid up near each separate cabin, and 

 occasionally, to give variety and luxury 

 to their repasts during a long season, in 

 which their stores must have become dry 

 and nearly tasteless, they will make ex- 

 cursions into the neighbouring woods for 

 fresh supplies. Depredations by the te- 

 nants of one cabin on the magazines of 

 another are unknown, and the strictest 

 notions of property and honesty are uni- 

 versal. Some of their habitations will 

 contain six only, others twelve, and some 

 even twenty or thirty inhabitants ; and the 

 whole village or township contains in ge- 

 neral about 12 or 14 habitations. Strang- 

 ers are not permitted to intrude on the 

 vicinity ; but, amidst the different mem- 

 bers of the society itself, there appear to 

 prevail that attachment and that friend- 

 ship, which are the natural result of mutual 

 co-operation, and of active and successful 

 struggles against difficulty. The approach 

 of danger is announced by the violent 

 striking of their tails against the surface 

 of the water, which extends the alarm to a 

 great distance ; and, while some throw 

 themselves for security into the water, 

 others retire within the precincts of their 

 cabins, where they are safe from every 

 enemy but man. 



The neatness as well as the security of 

 their dwellings is remarkable, the floors 

 being strewed over with box and fir, and 

 displaying the most admirable cleanness 

 and order. Their general position is that 

 of sitting, the upper part of the body, 

 with the head, being considerably raised, 

 while the lower touches, and is some- 

 what, indeed, immersed in the water, 

 This element is not only indispensable 

 to them in the same way as to other qua- 

 drupeds, but they carefully preserve ac- 

 cess to it even when the ice is of very 

 considerable depth, for the purpose of 

 regaling themselves by excursions to a 

 great extent under the frozen surface. 

 The most general method of taking them 

 is by attacking their cabins during these 

 r.amMes, and watching their approach to 



VOL. in. 



a hole dug in the ice at a small distance, 

 to which they are obliged, after a certain 

 time, to resort for respiration. 



The flesh of the anterior part of their 

 bodies resembles that of land animals in 

 substance and flavour, while that of the 

 lower possesses the taste, and smell, and 

 lightness of fish. 



The sexual union among these animals 

 is connected with considerable individual 

 choice, sentiment, and constancy. Every 

 couple pass together the autumn and win- 

 ter, with the most perfect comfort and 

 affection. About the close of winter the 

 females, after a gestation of four months, 

 produce, in general, each, two or three 

 young, and soon after this period they 

 are quitted by the males, who ramble 

 into the country to enjoy the return of 

 spring ; occasionally returning to their 

 cabins, but no longer dwelling in them. 

 When the females have reared their 

 young, which happens in the course of a 

 few weeks, to a state in which they can 

 follow their dams, these also quit their 

 winter residence and resort to the woods, 

 to enjoy the opening bloom and renovat- 

 ed supplies of nature. If their habitations 

 on the water should be impaired by 

 floods, or winds, or enemies, the beavers 

 assemble with great rapidity to repair 

 the damage. If no alarm of this nature 

 occurs, the summer is principally spent 

 by them in the woods, and on the ad- 

 vance of autumn they assemble in the 

 scene of their former labours and friend- 

 ships, and prepare with assiduity for the 

 confinement and rigours of approaching 

 winter. 



When taken young, the beaver maybe 

 tamed without difficulty, but exhibits few 

 or no indications of superior intelligence. 

 Some beavers are averse to that asso- 

 ciation which so strikingly characterises 

 these animals in general, and satisfy them- 

 selves with digging holes in the banks of 

 rivers, instead of erecting elaborate habi- 

 tations. The fur of these is comparative- 

 ly of little value. See Mammalia, Plate 

 VIT. fig. 1. 



C. huidobrius, or the Chilese beaver. 

 This is found principally in the deep lakes 

 and rivers of Chili. Its tail differs from 

 that of the former, in being lanceolated 

 and hairy. It produces no castor, and 

 possesses nothing of the art of architec- 

 ture. It is courageous, and even savage 

 in its disposition, and has the power of re- 

 maining under water for a very consider, 

 able time. Its fur is employed in the ma- 

 nufacture of hats, and of a species of cloth 

 as soft as the finest velvet, 







