254 RODENTIA. 



captivity. Those introduced by the Marquess of Bute 

 thrive very well near Eothesay in the Isle of Bute. A 

 similar attempt was also attended with success in Suffolk 

 in 1872. 



Dr. Eichardson narrates, in his " Northern Zoology," 

 p. 107 :— 



" The Beaver attains its full size in about three years ; 

 but breeds before that time. According to Indian 

 report, it pairs in February, and after carrying its young 

 about two w^eeks, brings forth from four to eight 

 or nine cubs, towards the middle or end of May. 

 Hearne states the usual number of young produced 

 by the Beaver at a time, to be from two to five, and 

 that he saw six only in two instances, although he 

 had witnessed the capture of some hundreds in a gravid 

 state. The female has eight teats. In the pairing 

 season the call of the Beaver is a kind of groan : but 

 the voice of the cubs, which are very playful, 

 resembles the cry of an infant." 



In an old work on America (p. 174), we find that, 

 speaking of New York, " The Beaver live in the Water 

 and on the Shore in great Companies together, in Nests 

 built of Wood, which deserve no small admiration, being 

 made after this manner : The Beaver first gather all 

 the loose wood, which they find along the banks of the 

 Eivers, of which, if there be not enough, they bite the 

 Bark off from the Trees in the neighbouring Woods, then 

 with their Tusks, of which two grow above and two 

 below in their Mouths, they gnaw the main body of the 

 tree so long that it drops asunder. Their nests, very 

 artificial, are six Stories high, cover'd on the top with 

 Clay to keep out Eain ; in the middle is a passage which 

 goes to the Eiver, into which they run so soon as they 

 perceive a Man ; to which purpose one of them stands 



