^)DerQtptiononM0Cr09ttt];e.d. 123 
fued, biteth tntm off, becaufe he will not have any 
one have the benefit of them j which, I think, may 
be rejeaed as fabulous : this refembleth thofe 
men, who, when in an eminent danger, will part 
with thofe things that are deareft to them, if they 
can but efcape. He loveth to be upon the banks 
or Rivers^ in thofe places where trees grow 
clofe to the water j and there he will fit, with his 
body in the tree, and his tail in the water : his 
fubtilty is feen in this, that he will make a tree hol- 
low with his teeth, as if it were made fo by art : 
he will not loofe his hold that he hath taken of any 
man, except he hath broken the bone, or that part 
that he hath hold of. The tree that he thus hol- 
loweth he maketh threce ells in it, one above ano- 
ther; and if itrainethfo that the tree is full of 
water, then he goech up a ftory higher, and accor- 
ding as the water decreafeth or increafeth, fo he 
goeth up higher or lower in the tree ; yet fo, that 
ftill he may keep his body dry, and his tail in the 
water : this may teach us to forefee dangers that 
are coming upon us, and to arm our felves againft 
them. ^ 
CHAP, irjrviii. 
Of the Otter. 
T His is alfo an j4mfhiUoHs creature, very much 
refembling the Beaver ; there is no great dif- 
ference as to their outward lhape ; Pliny faith , 
that 
