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rior advances confiderably over the inferior, fo that 

 they crofs like the two blades of a pair of fciflars : 

 Laftly, that the length of both the one and the 

 other is precifely the third part of their root. 



The head of the beaver is very near like that of 

 a mountain rat. Its fnout is pretty long, the eyes 

 little, the ears mort, round, hairy on the outnde, 

 and fmooth within. Its legs are fhort, particularly 

 the forelegs, which are only four or five inches long, 

 and pretty much like thofe of the badger. The 

 nails are made obliquely and hollow like quills, the 

 hind feet are quite different, being flat and furnifh- 

 ed with membranes between the toes ; thus the bea- 

 ver can walk though (lowly, and fwims with the 

 fame eafe as any other aquatick animal. Befides, in 

 refpect of its tail, it is altogether a fifh, having been 

 juridically declared fuch by the faculty of medicine 

 of Paris, in confequence of which declaration, the 

 faculty of theology have decided that it might be 

 lawfully eaten on meagre days. M. Lemery was 

 miftaken in faying, that this decifion regarded only 

 the hinder part of the beaver. It has been placed 

 all of it in the fame clafs with mackrel. 



It is true, that hitherto we have not been able 

 to profit much by this toleration the beavers are 

 at prefent fo far from our habitations, that it is rare 

 to meet with any that are eatable. Our Indians who 

 live among us keep it after having dried it in the 

 fmoke, and 1 give you my word, Madam, it is the 

 worft eating I ever tailed. It is alfo necefTary when 

 you have got frefh beaver, to give it a boiling in order 

 to take away a very difagreeable relilh. With this 

 precaution, it is exceeding good eating, there be- 

 ing no fort of meat either lighter, more wholefome, 

 or more delicious, it is even affirmed to be as nou- 



rifhing 



