224 MAMMALIA=BEAVER. 
ple, 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 beaver, far from having an absolute superiority over 
the other animals, seems, on the contrary, to be inferior to some of them as 
to its qualities merely as an individual. It is an animal tolerably mii, 
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 nas 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 which, 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 which 
the beavers construct their dwellings, being somewhat particular, we insert 
it here. 
“They are not particular in the site they select for the establishment or 
their dwellings, but if in a lake or poa:}, 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 afforded 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, willow, 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 ef 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. 
_- s 
