412 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



skins are black, but the general colour is a chesnut- 

 brown, more or less dark; some have been found 

 entirely white, others spotted ; but both these kinds 

 are very rare. They breed once a year, and bring 

 forth from two to six at a birth. 



Beavers are found chiefly in the northern parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and America ; particularly the latter, 

 from whence many thousands of their skins are an- 

 nually brought into Europe,* where the fur is used 

 as an important and valuable article in the manu- 

 facture of hats. 



The Beaver is one of the most industrious and 

 sagacious of quadrupeds; their labours seem the 

 result of a social compact, formed for mutual con- 

 venience, preservation, and support; and as in all 

 well regulated societies, a due subordination is 

 necessary for the ordering and conducting each in- 

 dividual effort to the advantage of the whole; so 

 amongst these curious animals, it would appear, 

 according to the accounts of some authors, that in 

 forming their habitations, in which their sagacity 

 and foresight are indeed remarkable, all have their 

 proper part assigned to them, that by dividing their 

 labour, safety, stability, and expedition may be the 

 general effect. For this purpose, after assembling 

 in certain numbers, a convenient place is chosen for 

 the erection of their buildings, which is generally! 

 a level piece of ground with a rivulet running 

 through it : they begin early in the summer, to pre- 

 pare for the completion of their works, by cutting 



* The Hudson's Bay Company in the year 1763, sold 54,670 

 Beaver skins at one sale. 



f Those which build their houses by the sides of lakes and deep 

 waters, do not build dams. 



