OF NATURAL HISTORY. 317 



carpets, upon which they permit not the fmallefl: dirtinefs. The 

 window that faces the water anfwers for a balcony to receive the 

 frefli air, and for the purpofe of bathing. During the greater part 

 of the day, the beavers fit on end, with their head and the anterior 

 parts of their body elevated, and their pofterior parts funk in the 

 water. The aperture of this window is fufficiently raifed to prevent 

 its being flopped up with the ice, which, in the beaver climates, is 

 often two or three feet thick. When this accident happens, they 

 flope the fole of the window, cut obliquely the flakes which fupport 

 it, and thus open a communicaiion with the unfrozen water. They 

 often fwim a long way under the ice. The continual habit of keeping 

 their tail and pofterior parts of their body in the water, appears to have 

 changed the nature of their flefli ; for that of their anterior parts, as 

 far as the reins, has the tafte and confiftence of the flefla of land- 

 animals ; but that of the tail and pofterior parts has the odour and 

 all the other qualities of fifti. The tail, which is a foot long, an 

 inch thick, and five or fix inches broad, is a genuine portion of a 

 fifti attached to the body of a quadruped : It is wholly covered with 

 fcales, and below the fcales with a fkin perfedlly fimilar to that of 

 large fifties. In September, the beavers collect their provifions of 

 bark and of wood. Till the end of winter, they remain in their 

 cabins, enjoy the fruits of their labours, and tafte the fweets of do- 

 meftic happinefs. This is their time of repofe, and their feafon of 

 love. Knowing and loving one another, each couple unite, not by 

 chance, but by tafte and a real feledion. The females bring forth 

 in the end of winter, and generally produce two or three at a time. 

 About this period they are left by the males, who retire to the coun- 

 try to enjoy the pleafures and the fruits of the fpring. They return 

 occafionally, however, to their cabins; but dwell there no more. 

 The mothers continue in the cabins, and are occupied in nurfing, 

 proteding, and rearing their young, which in a few weeks are in a 

 condition to follow their dams. The beavers aflemble not again till- 



autumn,, 



