CASTOR. 
preparations of such immense magnitude 
and toil being completed, they proceed to 
the construction of their mansions, which 
are raised on piles near the margin of the 
stream or lake, and have one opening from 
the land, and another by which they have 
instant access to the water. These build- 
ing are usually of an orbicular form, in ge- 
neral about the diameter of ten feet, and 
comprehending frequently several stories. 
The foundation walls are nearly two feet in 
thickness, resting upon planks or stakes, 
which constitute also their floors. In the 
houses of one story only, the walls, which in 
all cases are plastered with extreme neat- 
ness both externally and within, after rising 
about two feet perpendicularly approach 
each other so as at length to constitute, in 
closing, a species of dome. In the applica- 
tion of the mortar to their habitations the 
tails as well as feet of the beavers are of 
essential service. Stone, wood, and a sandy 
kind of earth are employed in their struc- 
tures, which by their compactness and 
strength completely preclude injury from 
winds and rain. The alder, poplar, and wil- 
low, are the principal trees wliich they em- 
ploy ; and they always begin their opera- 
tions on the trunk at nearly two feet above 
the ground ; nor do they ever desist from 
the process till its fall is completed. They 
sit instead of standing at this labour, and 
while reducing the tree to the ground de- 
rive a pleasure at once from the success of 
their toils, and from the gratification of their 
palate and appetite, by the bark which is a 
favourite species of food to them, as w'ell 
as the young and tender parts of the wood 
itself. 
For their support in winter ample stores 
are laid up near each separate cabin, and 
occasionally, to give variety and luxury to 
their repasts during a long season, in which 
their stores must have become dry and 
nearly tasteless, they will make excursions 
into the neighbouring woods for fresh sup- 
plies. Depredations by the tenants of one 
cabin on the magazines of another are un- 
known, and the strictest notions of property 
and honesty are universal. Some of their 
habitations will contain six only, others 
twelve, and some even 20 or 30 inhabi- 
tants; and the whole village or township 
contains in general about 12 or 14 habita- 
tions. Strangers are not permitted to in- 
trude on the vicinity ; but, amidst the dif- 
ferent members of the society itself there 
appear to prevail that attachment and that 
friendsliip which ai'e the natural result of 
mutual co-operation, and of active and suc- 
cessful struggles against difliculty. The 
approach of danger is announced by the 
violent striking of their tails against the sur- 
face of the water, which extends the alarm 
to a great distance ; and, while some throvr 
themselves for security into the water, others 
retire within the precincts of their cabins, 
where they are safe from every enemy but 
man. 
The neatness as w'ell as the security of 
their dwellings is remarkable, the floors be- 
ing strewed over with box and fir, and dis- 
playing the most admirable cleanness and 
order. Their general position is that of sit- 
ting, the upper part of the body, with the 
head, being considerably raised, while the 
lower touches and is somewhat, indeed, 
immersed in the w'ater. This element is 
not only indispensable to them in the same 
way as to other quadrupeds, but they care- 
fully preserve access to it even when the 
ice is of very considerable depth, for the 
purpose of regaling themselves by excur- 
sions to a great extent under the frozen sur- 
face. The most general method of taking 
them is by attacking their cabins during 
tliese rambles, and watching their approach 
to a hole dug in the ice at a small distance, 
to which tliey are obliged, after a certain 
time, to resort for respiration. 
The flesh of the anterior part of their 
bodies resembles that of land animals in 
substance and flavour, while that of the 
lower possesses the taste, and smell, and 
lightness of fish. 
The sexual union among these animals is 
connected with considerable individual 
choice, sentiment, and constancy. Eveiy 
couple pass together the autumn and winter 
with the most perfect comfort and affection. 
About the close of winter the females, after 
a gestation of four months, produce in ge- 
neral, each, two or three young, and soon 
after this period they are quitted b^ the 
males, who ramble into the country to en- 
joy the return of spring; occasionally re- 
turning to their cabins, but no longer dwell- 
ing in them. When the females have reared 
their young, which happens in the course of 
a few weeks, to a state in which they can 
follow their dams ; these also quit their win- 
ter residence and resort to the woods to 
enjoy the opening bloom and renovated 
supplies of nature. If tlieir habitations on 
the water should be impaired by floods, or 
winds, or enemies, the beavers assemble 
with great rapidity to repair the damage. 
If no alarm of this nature occurs, the sum- 
