THE COMMON BEAVER. 423 



Starved itself to death by voluntarily abstaining from 

 food *. 



Instances have occurred of Beavers haying been 

 perfectly domesticated. Major Roderfort, of Nevv 

 York^ related to Professor Kalm, that he had a 

 tame Beaver above half a year in his house, where 

 he went about, quite loose, like a Dog. The Major 

 gave him bread ; and sometimes ^fi-//, of which he 

 was very greedy t> As much water was put into a 

 bowl as he w'anted. All the rao-s and soft thing-s he 

 could meet with he dragged into the corner where 

 he was accustomed to sleep, and made a bed of 

 them. The Cat in the house, having kittens, took 

 possession of his bed ; and he did not attempt to 

 prevent her. When the Cat went out, the Beaver 

 often took the Kitten between his fore paws, and 

 held it to his breast to warm it^ and seemed to doat 

 upon it ; as soon as the Cat returned, he always re- 

 stored to her the Kitten. Sometimes he grumbled; 

 but never attempted to bite;]:. 



The skin of the Beaver has hair of two kinds : the 

 lower, immediately next to the hide, is short, im- 

 plicated together, and as fine as down ; the upper 

 hair grows more sparingly, and is both thicker and 

 longer. The former is of little value ; but the flix 

 or down is wrought into hats, stockings, caps, and 

 other articles of dress : 



* Penn. ^.rct. Zool. i. 104. 

 t This is contrary to the assertion of Capt. Cartwiiglit, who says 

 that they livd only oa vegetables. 



X Kalm, ii. Go. 



Ee 4 



