which has not been noticed by writers, is, that on th© 

 outside of each hind foot, it has a large, horny pro- 

 jection, four inches long and two broad, probably 

 intended to assist it in swimming. 



BEAVER. 



The Beaver (Castor Fiber). 



The Beaver is a native of the most northern parts 

 of Europe, Asia, and America; in its natural state 

 lives in well-regulated societies of from two to three 

 hundred each, constructing their habitations of wood 

 and clay in the most astonishing manner, with the 

 greatest regularity ; but when taken from their native 

 haunts they are said, by all naturalists who have had 

 an opportunity of observing them, to lose their instinct 

 and become a stupid and sluggish animal. The fol- 

 lowing anecdote may, however, be relied on : — a pair 

 of them was purchased a few years since by Mr. 

 Polito, for the purpose of exhibiting in his Collec- 

 tion ; they were put into an upper room or loft, 

 with a quantity of green sticks and boughs for their 

 food ; on visiting them in the morning, only one 

 /Could be discovered, which was lying in a state of 

 evident uneasiness in a corner of the room : at last, 

 after some search, the female was found to have died 

 in the night, and the male had removed her to an 



