40 An Hijîorîcal Journal of 



ting Teeth are two Inches and a half long, the lower are above 

 three Inches, and follow the Bend of the Jaw, which gives them 

 a Strength which is admirable in fuch little Animals. It is ob- 

 ferved aifo, that the two Jaws do not meet exaélly, but that the 

 upper reach over the lower, fo that they crofs like the Edges of 

 a Pair of Scifiars ; and lafcly, that the Length of all their Teeth 

 is exa6lly the third Part of the Roots of them. The Head of a 

 Bqaver is nearly like the Head of a Field Rat, the Snout is 

 fomewhat long, the Eyes little, the Ears Ihort and round, cover- 

 ed with Dov/n on the Outiide, and naked within ; its Legs are 

 ihort, particularly thofe before, they are feldom above four or 

 £ve Inches long, and like thofe of a Badger ; its Nails are as it 

 were cut Hoping, and are hollow like a Quill. The hind Legs 

 are quite different, they are flat, and furnifhed with a Mem- 

 brane ; fo that the Beaver goes but flowly on Land, but fwims 

 as eafily as any other Water Animal : And on the other Hand, 

 by its Tail, it is entirely a Fifh ; and fo it has been declared by 

 the College of Phyficians at Paris y and in Confequence of this 

 Declaration, the Dodors of Divinity have agreed, that the Flelh 

 might be eaten on Fall Days. M. Lemery was miHaken, when 

 he laid that this Decifion was only confined to the Tail of the 

 Beaver. It is true that we can make but little Advantage of this 

 Condefcenlion : The Beavers are fo far from our Habitations at 

 prefent, it is rare to have any that are eatable. The Savages 

 who dwell amongfl us, keep them after they have been dryed 

 in the Smoak, and I afTure you, Madam, that I know of nothing 

 more ordinary. We muil alfo, when the Beaver is frefh, put it in 

 fome Broth to make it lofe a wild and naufeous Tafte ; but with this 

 Precaution there is no Meat lighter, more dainty, or wholfome : 

 They fay that it is as nourifliing as Veal : Boiled it wants 

 fomething to give it a Relifh, but roafted it it wants nothing. 



V/hat is flill mofl remarkable in the Shape of this Animal, is 

 the Tail. It is near four Inches SmA at its Root, five in the 

 midfl, and three at the End, (I fpeak always of the large 

 Beavers) it is an Inch thick, and a Foot long. Its Subilance-é» 

 is a hard Fat, or a tender Sinew, which pretty much refembles 

 the Flefh of a Porpoife, but v/hich grows harder upon being 

 kept a long Time. It is covered with a fcaly Skin, the Scales 

 of which are hexagonal, half a Line thick, and three or four 

 Lines long, which lay one upon another like thofe of a Fifh ; 

 they lay upon a very tender Skin, and are fixt in fuch a Man- 

 ner, that they may be eafily feparated after the Death of the 

 Animal. This is. Madam, in few Words, the Dcfcription of 

 this curious amphibious Creature. 



The 



