ABIERICAN BEAVER. 131 



first made known by M. Cuvier, who gave it the name 

 of its discoA^erer, M. Diard. It is described as much 

 larger than the two last^ and very remarkable for the 

 beautiful regularity of its spots. We know not whether 

 it has yet been brought alive into this country. 



The size equals that of the ocelot. Ground colour of 

 the body yellowish grey : throat and back covered with 

 black spotS;, disposed in longitudinal bands ; while other 

 similar spots descend down the shoulders perpendicular 

 to the preceding : thighs, and part of the flanks, 

 marked by black open rings, with the centres grey : 

 legs wath black full spots. The yelloAvish grey, and the 

 black of the tail, form some dusky rings. 



The American Beaver. 



Castor fiber, Linn. Castor Americanus, Cuvier. The Beaver, 

 Pennant. Ammisk, Cree Indians. Ttsoulaye, Huron 

 Indians. 



The social instinct, which impels man to seek the 

 society and participate in the labours of his fellows, is 

 equally manifested among several tribes of those in- 

 ferior beings over which he has been placed by their 

 common Creator. Among insects, the bee and the ant 

 will occur to 'every one ; and if we look to quadrupeds, 

 in no tribe is this instinct more developed than in beavers, 

 whose history we shall now shortly illustrate. It is a 

 fact worth observing, that nearly all such animals as 

 possess the social feeling to any great extent, are pecu- 

 liarly remarkable for their skill and ingenuity; as if 

 they were gifted with a higher degree of instinct, ap- 

 proaching to that reason Avhich man is conscious of pos- 

 sessing, but which he is totally unable to define. 



The beaver is as remarkable for its skill as for its 

 docility. Some authors have doubted whether the spe- 

 cies still found in Europe, and that so common in North 

 America, are distinct ; but ]\I. Cuvier considers that they 

 are really so : we shall therefore view them in this light. 



The habits of the beaver are aquatic : they live on the 

 banks of the great rivers, and wooded morassfg,^ -v^ere 

 K 2 



