THE BEAVER. 
169 
appropriate for his dwelling : the former work seemed 
to be intended for a dam. When he had walled up the 
space between the feet of the chest of drawers, he pro- 
ceeded to carry in sticks, cloths, hay, cotton, and to 
make a nest ; and when he had done he would sit up 
under the drawers, and comb himself with the nails of 
his hind feet. In this operation, that which appeared 
at first to be a mal-formation was shown to be a beau- 
tiful adaptation to the necessities of the animal. The 
huge webbed hind feet of the Beaver turn in so as to 
give the appearance of deformity ; but if the toes were 
straight, instead of being incurved, the animal could 
not use them for the purpose of keeping its fur in 
order, and cleansing it from dirt and moisture. 
" Binny generally carried small and light articles 
between his right fore leg and his chin, walking on the 
other three legs ; and large masses, which he could 
not grasp readily with his teeth, he pushed forwards 
leaning against them with his right fore paw and his 
chin. He never carried any thing on his tail, which he 
liked to dip in water, but he was not fond of plunging 
in the whole of his body. If his tail was kept moist he 
never cared to drink ; but if it was kept dry it became 
hot, and the animal appeared distressed and would 
drink a great deal. It is not impossible that the tail 
may have the power of absorbing water, like the skin 
of frogs, though it must be owned that the scaly integu- 
ment which invests that member has not much of the 
character which generally belongs to absorbing sur- 
faces. 
" Bread, and bread and milk and sugar, formed the 
principal part of Binny's food ; but he was very fond of 
succulent fruits and roots. He was a most entertaining 
creature, and some highly comic scenes occurred be- 
tween the worthy, but slow. Beaver, and a light and 
airy Macauco that was kept in the same apartment." 
