284 
BEAVER. 
upon which the beavers, who think to escape in 
their usual way, by flying to the water, and emerg- 
ing at the hole in the ice, fall into the snare, and are 
taken. 
There is a variety of the beaver which, from 
want of sagacity, or inclination, to form a habita- 
tion like the others, live in an unsociable solitary 
manner. These beavers are called terriers ; they 
either burrow in the banks of rivers, or make their 
abode in caverns dug in a rising ground, either on 
the shore, or at some distance from the water, to 
which they scoop out subterranean trenches from 
their cavern, which descend from ten to a hundred 
feet in depth. These trenches furnish them with 
retreats situated at unequal heights, wherein they 
enjoy a shelter from the water when it ascends. 
They also form their winter magazines of provision, 
but make their beds of chips instead of moss, under 
which they nestle upon some grass. 
It has been affirmed that the beaver, being an 
aquatic animal, could not live entirely upon land ; 
but the notion is without any real foundation ; for 
the young beaver sent Buffon from Canada was al- 
ways kept in the house ; and, at first, could not be 
induced, without difficulty, to enter the water ; 
however, after having been forcibly retained there 
a few minutes, it became easy, and seemed to like 
its situation so well that it did not attempt to get 
out, and when left at liberty would frequently re- 
turn to its native element. “ One day,” says Buf- 
fon, “ he escaped, and descended by a stair into the 
