3i8 THEPHILOSOPHY 



autumn, unlefs their banks or cabins be injured by inundations; for, 

 when accidents of this kind happen, they fuddenly collet their for- 

 ces, and repair the breaches that have been made. 



This account of the fociety and operations of beavers, however 

 marvellous it may appear, has been eftablifhed and confirmed by fo 

 many crediblecye-witnefles, that it isimpoffible to doubt of its reality. 



The habitation where moles depofit their young merits a particu- 

 lar defcription ; becaufe it is conftrudted with peculiar intelligence, 

 and becaufe the mole is an animal with which we are well acquaint- 

 ed. They begin by raifing the earth, and forming a pretty high 

 arch. They leave partitions, or a kind of pillars, at certain diftan- 

 ces, beat and prefs the earth, interweave it with the roots of plants, 

 and render it fo hard and folid, that the water cannot penetrate the 

 vault, on account of its convexity and firmnefs. They then elevate 

 a little hillock under the principal arch ; upon the latter they lay 

 herbs and leaves for a bed to their young. In this fituation they are 

 above the level of the ground, and, of courfe, beyond the reach of 

 ordinary inundations. They are, at the fame time, defended from 

 the rains by the large vault that covers the internal one, upon the 

 convexicy of which laft they reft along with their young. This inter- 

 nal hillock is pierced on all fides with floping holes, which defcend 

 flill lower, and ferve as fubterraneous paflages for the mother to go 

 in queft of food for herfelf and her offspring, Thefe by-paths are 

 beaten and firm, extend about twelve or fifteen paces, and iffue from 

 the principal manfion like rays from a centre. Under the fuperior 

 vault we likewife find remains of the roots of the meadow faffron, 

 which feem to be the firft food given to the young. From this de- 

 fcription it appeals, that the mole never comes abroad but at confi- 

 derable diftances from her habitation. Moles, like the beavers, pair; 

 and fo lively and reciprocal an attachment fubfifts between them, 



that 



