474 MAMMALIA. 



similar to those of American Beavers. Such colonies are, as 

 may be imagined, excessively rare, and excite the greatest amount 

 of curiosity. 



The Beaver thrives in captivity, and although the water 

 is its favourite element, it may be kept from it without in- 

 convenience. The one Buiibn possessed, and which had been 

 taken from Canada when very young, was even frightened at the 

 sight of water, and refused to enter it; but after being forced to 

 take a bath for a few minutes, it began to enjoy it, and returned 

 to paddle in it whenever opportunity offered. It was very 

 familiar, but without much affection, and when asking for food 

 it shook its fore paws and uttered feeble cries. 



The interesting experiment has been made of rearing the 

 Beaver in a domestic state, by placing it in those conditions in 

 which its natural instincts might be developed, and even by 

 various means facilitating the manifestations of these instincts. 

 An attempt of this kind was undertaken by M. Exinger, of Vienna, 

 on the banks of a large pond situated in the vicinity of Modlin, 

 Poland. The Bulletin of the Societe d'Acclimatation has given 

 an account of this effort.* 



The Beavers of M. Exinger belonged to those which burrow in 

 the ground. This observer was able to study them for six years. 

 Thejr were very timid, and scarcely ever left their retreat until 

 nightfall. At the approach of winter, M. Exinger had the willow 

 and poplar trees cut down, and laid them on the bank of the pond, 

 the trunks in the water. In the first cold daj^s the Beavers 

 dragged these trees to the bottom of the pond, and ranged them 

 side by side, weaving them in such a manner as to form a solid 

 and resisting mass. When the winter was prolonged, M. Exinger 

 broke the ice and introduced some fresh trunks of trees, so as to 

 i'urnish an additional supply of provisions for the prisoners. 



Dr. Sacc, in alluding to this example, remarks that there is 

 here an excellent means of utilising the immense marshes of the 

 East and North of Europe, in favouring the settlement and multi- 

 plication of Beavers. It would suffice for this purpose to plant 

 the banks of these marshes with trees suitable for Beavers — 

 willows, poplars, alders, birches, &c. The enterprise would not be 

 an expensive one, and would soon become a source of wealth, for 



* January, 1866. 



