4^2 THE COMMON BEAVER. 



to lessen our opinion of the sagacity of these animals), 

 that a coLnmunity of Beavers lias in one or two in- 

 stances been starved to death, in consequence of a 

 failure of provisions, or some want of foresight in 

 fixing upon a spot that was found not to contain 

 sufficient food to support them : or that they have 

 sometimes established their colony in a flat situation, 

 where a sudden thaw has swelled the water to such a 

 height as to flood the whole place, wash away their 

 food, and thus destroy them. To suppose them ca- 

 pable of judging of probabilities to so great an extent, 

 would be to rank them in intellect with Man. We 

 must rather be astonished at the operations that we 

 see them perform, than seek for them any higher 

 situation than that in which they are placed. 



Beavers "bring forth their young towards the end of 

 June ; and generally have two at a time, which are, 

 in nine instances out of ten, a male and a female. 

 These continue with their parents till they are full 

 three years old ; when they pair off, and form houses 

 for themselves. If, however, they are undisturbed, 

 and have plenty of provisions, they remain with the 

 old ones, and thus form a double society *. 



We cannot wonder that such sociable animals as 

 the Beavers are, should also exhibit great attach- 

 ment to each other. Two young ones that were 

 taken alive, and brought to a neighbouring factory 

 in Hudson's Bay, were preserved for some time, and 

 throve very fast, till one of them was killed by an 

 accident. The survivor instantly felt the loss, and 



* Church. 



