TH^ COMMON BEAVER. 421 



farther disturbed, he advised his companions again to 

 conceal themselves. 



*' One of the Beavers then ventured (continues 

 our observer) to go upon the breach, after having 

 several times approached and returned Ike a spy. 

 He surveyed the place ; and then struck four blows, 

 as he did the preceding evening, with his tail. One 

 of those that were going to work, passed close by 

 me ; and as I wanted a specimen to examine, I shot 

 him. The noise of the gun made them all scamper 

 off with greater speed than a hundred blows of the 

 tail of their overseer could have done," — By filing 

 at them several times afterwards, they were compel- 

 led to run with precipitation into the woods. M. Du 

 Pratz then examined their habitations. 



Under one of the houses he found fifteen pieces 

 of wood ; with the bark in part gnawed off, appa- 

 rently intended for food. And round the middle 

 of this house, which formed a passage for them to 

 ofo in and out at, he found no less than fifteen dif- 

 ferent cells. — These habitations were made by posts 

 fixed, slanting upwards to a point ; and in the mid- 

 dle was the Hoor, resting firmly on notches in the 

 posts *. . 



Notwithstanding all the sagacity and the exten- 

 sive reasoning faculties of mankind, how often do 

 we see their best- formed plans, their most dear and 

 favorite contrivances fail, through some uiilookcd 

 for event ! We cannot then surely be surprised, 

 when we are told, (as we are by one writer, in order 



• Du Pciitz, I 1'2— M7. 



E e 3 



