ORDER X. THE EOPEXTIA. 329 



set to work, slope t!ic sill of the window, cut oblique]}' the stakes whi^'h 

 supiiort it, and thus 0[)en a communieation with the unfrozen water. This 

 element is so necessary, or rather so iigreeable, that even a temporary priva- 

 tion appears to distress them. 



"During the summer months, they sedulously employ themselves in col- 

 lecting an ample store of wood and bark, for winter provender, lilach cabin 

 has its magazine, proportioned to the number of inhabitants ; this they share 

 in common, and never pillage their neigiibors. Some villages consist of 

 tv.-enty or thirty cabins. Cut such estaljlishnients arc rare, and, generally 

 speaking, the little republic seldom exceeds ten or twelve funilies, of which 

 each has its own cpiarter of the village, its magazine, and separate habita- 

 tion. The smaller cabins contain fro:n two to six, the larger from eighteen 

 to twenty, and even thirty beavers. But as the parties are generally paired, 

 it is calculated that each society consists of one iiundred and fifty or two 

 liiuidred, who at fir.-t laljor jointly in raising the great [lublie building, and 

 afterwards, in select tribes or companies, to construct particidar habitations. 

 In this society, however numerous, imiversal peace is maintained. TJieir 

 union is cemented by common labors, and rendered ])crpetual by nuitual con- 

 venience. iNIodcrate desires, with simple tastes, and aversion to blood and 

 carnage, render them insensible to the allurements of war and rapine. They 

 enjoy every possible good, while wt)rldly men only pant after li.-ipiiiiiess. 

 Frientls to eacii other, they coalesce fcir nuitual protection ; and if they ha\c 

 any enemies, they know how to avoid them. ^\']ien danger approaches, 

 they apprise one another by striking their tails on the surface of the water, 

 the noise of whicii is heard at a considerable distance, and resounds tlirongii- 

 out their numerous habitations. In a moment they are gone. Some [)lungo 

 into the lake, others intrench themselves within their walls, which can be 

 penetrated only by the fire of heaven or tlie arms of men, and which no 

 animal attempts either to open or overcome." 



Linn;eus describes an animal which he calls the soltlari/ braver. It lives 

 alone, never venturing to approach the regular beaver settlement; and, 

 instead of the neat and comfortable dwelling of his social relati\e, hides him- 

 self in a dirty hole, and spends his days in comfortless solitude. Unclean 

 and stupid, and destitute of all the superior beaver virtues, Linn;Bus con- 

 jectures that he is a criminal — an outcast from his tri!ie ; judicially con- 

 demned to banishment for some violation of the laws of his commonwealth. 

 It may be so ; for there is reason to believe that some animals do visit the 

 offences of their members with penalties of more or less severitj-. 



The beaver is hunted for his valuable fur, and large quantities of skins 

 are sent annually from British America to New York, and other large com- 

 mercial cities of the Union. 

 NO. IX. 42 



