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MAMMALIA. 
similar to tliose of American Beavers. Such colonies are, as 
may be imagined, excessively rare, and excite the greatest amount 
of curiosity. 
The Beaver thrives in captivity, and although the water 
is its favourite element, it may be kept from it without in- 
convenience. The one Buffon possessed, and which had been 
taken from Canada when very young, was even frightened at the 
sight of water, and refused to enter it ; but after being forced to 
take a bath for a few minutes, it began to enjoy it, and returned 
to paddle in it whenever opportunity offered. It was very 
familiar, but without much affection, and when asking for food 
it shook its fore paws and uttered feeble cries. 
The interesting experiment has been made of rearing the 
Beaver in a domestic state, by placing it in those conditions in 
which its natural instincts might be developed, and even by 
various means facilitating the manifestations of these instincts. 
An attempt of this kind was undertaken by M. Exinger, of Vienna, 
on the banks of a large pond situated in the vicinity of Modlin, 
Poland. The Bulletin of the Societe d’Acclimatation has given 
an account of this effort. * 
The Beavers of M. Exinger belonged to those which burrow in 
the ground. This observer was able to study them for six years. 
They were very timid, and scarcely ever left their retreat until 
nightfall. At the approach of winter, M. Exinger had the willow 
and poplar trees cut down, and laid them on the bank of the pond, 
the trunks in the water. In the first cold days the Beavers 
dragged these trees to the bottom of the pond, and ranged them 
side by side, weaving them in such a manner as to form a solid 
and resisting mass. When the winter was prolonged, M. Exinger 
broke the ice and introduced some fresh trunks of trees, so as to 
furnish an additional supply of provisions for the prisoners. 
Dr. Sacc, in alluding to this example, remarks that there is 
here an excellent means of utilising the immense marshes of the 
East and North of Europe, in favouring the settlement and multi- 
plication of Beavers. It would suffice for this purpose to plant 
the banks of these marshes with trees suitable for Beavers — 
willows, poplars, alders, birches, &c. The enterprise would not be 
an expensive one, and would soon become a source of wealth, for 
* January, 1866. 
