226 _ MAMMALIA—BEAVER. 
trowel. The habit of flapping with the tail, is retained by them in a state 
of captivity, and, unless it be in the acts already mentioned, appears design- 
ed to effect no particular purpose. The houses, when they have stood for 
some time, and been kept in repair, become so firm from the consolidation 
of all the materials, as to require great exertion, and the use of the ice chisel 
or other iron instruments, to be broken open. The laborious nature of such 
an undertaking may easily be conceived, when it is known that the tops of 
the houses are generally from four to six feet thick at the apex of the cone.” 
It is near their habitations, that they establish their, magazines of fresh 
bark and soft wood; and to each hut or cabin, there is one allotted, of a size 
proportioned to the number of its inhabitants, to which they have all a com- 
mon right; nor do they offer to plunder their neighbors. 
Hamlets, so to express them, have been seen, composed of twenty, and 
even twenty-five dwellings. Such large settlements, however, are rare. 
In general, they do not contain more than ten or a dozen families, each of 
which has its own separate district, magazine, and habitation; nor will it 
allow any strangers to settle within its inclosure. The smallest dwellings 
contain two, four, and six; the largest, eighteen, twenty, and it is even said, 
thirty beavers; and it seldom or never happens that the number of males 
and females 1s not upon a par. Moderately speaking, therefore, their socie- 
ty may be said to consist frequently of one hundred and fifty, or two hundred 
workmen; who, having first exerted their united industry and diligence in 
rearing a grand public work, afterwards form themselves into different 
bodies, in order to construct private habitations. 
However numerous the republic of beavers may be, peace and good order 
are uniformly maintained in it. A common series of toil has strengthened 
their union ; the coaveniences which they have procured for each other, and 
the abundance of provisions which, after having amassed, they continue to 
consume together, render them happy within themselves; and, having 
moderate appetites, entertaining even an aversion to blood and carnage, 
they have not the smallest propensity to hostility or rapine, but actually 
enjoy all the blessings which man is only born to desire. Friends to each 
other, if threatened by any enemies from abroad, they know how to avoid 
them; and for this purpose, on the first alarm, they give notice of their 
mutual danger, by striking the water with their tails, which sends forth a 
sound that is heard in their most distant dwellings. On this occasion, each 
beaver, as he thinks most expedient, plunges into the water, or conceals 
himself within the walls of his own habitation, which is in no danger but 
from the fire of the angry heavens, or from the weapons of man, and which 
n0 animal dares attempt to open or to overturn. 
These asylums are not only secure, but also very neat and commodious. 
The fleor is covered with verdure, young and tender branches of trees serv- 
ing them for a carpet, on which they never permit any of their excrements 
‘o be left. The window which fronts the water, serves them for a balcony, 
