224 MAMMALIA— BEAVER. 



pie, to that of man, supposes, however, certain common projects, certain 

 relative ends in view, projects which, having for their basis society, in like 

 manner suppose some particular method of understanding one another, and 

 of acting in concert. 



It is allowed, that the heaver, far from having an absolute superiority over 

 uhe other animals, seems, on the contrary, to be inferior to some of them as 

 lo its qualities^merely as an individual. It is an animal tolerably mild, 

 tranquil, and familiar, though rather, it would seem, gloomy and melancholy. 

 If we consider this animal, therefore, in its dispersed and solitary state, we 

 shall find, that, as to internal qualities, it is not superior to other animals ; 

 that it has not more ingenuity than the dog, more sense than the elephant, 

 or more cunning than the fox. It is rather remarkable for the singularities 

 of its internal qualities. Of quadrupeds, the beaver alone has a flat, oval 

 tail, covered with scales, which serves as a rudder to direct its motions in 

 the water. It is the only quadruped that has membranes between the toes 

 on the hind feet, and at the same time none on the fore ones, which it uses 

 as hands in carrying food to the mouth. It is the only one Avhich, while it 

 resembles a terrestrial animal in its fore parts, seems to approach the nature 

 of an aquatic being in its hind ones. 



The beavers begin to assemble in the month of June or July, in order to 

 form a society, which is to continue for the greater part of the year. They 

 arrive in numbers from every side, and presently form a company of two or 

 three hundred. The place of meeting is commonly the place where they 

 fix their abode ; and this is always by the side of some lake or river. 



Godman's account, chiefly taken from Hearne, of the manner in Avhich 

 the beavers construct their dwellings, being somewhat particular, we insert 

 it here. 



*'They are not particular in the site they select for the establishment of 

 their dwellings, but if in a lake or pond, where a dam is not required, they 

 are careful to build where the water is sufficiently deep. In standing 

 waters, however, they have not the advantage aflbrded by a current for the 

 transportation of their supplies of wood ; which, when they build on a run- 

 ning stream, is always cut higher up than the place of their residence, and 

 floated down. 



" The materials used for the construction of their dams, are the trunks and 

 branches of small birch, mulberry, willoAV, poplar, &c. They begin to cut 

 down their timber for building, early in the summer, but their edifices are 

 not commenced until about the middle or latter part of August, and are not 

 completed until the beginning of the cold season. The strength of their 

 teeth, and their perseverance in this work, may be fairly estimated, by the 

 size of the trees they cut down. These are cut in such a manner as to fall 

 into the water; and then floated towards the site of the dam or dwellings. 

 Small shrubs, &c., cut at a distance from the water, they drag with their 

 teeth to the stream, and then launch and tow them to the place of deposit. 



