Leaver. 
subterraneous vaults in the royal garden. He con- 
tinued for some time to swim in the stagnant water 1 
in the bottom of these vaults. However, as soon as 
he saw the light of the torches which were brought 
to search for him, he returned to those who called 
him, and allowed himself quietly to be taken/’ 
The figures which accompany this description 
were taken from two American beavers, and are the 
Only drawings that have ever been made of them ; 
naturalists in this country having, almost inva- 
riably copied BufFon. These animals, which are 
now exhibited at Exeter Change # , were brought 
from Canada about five years ago, and have con- 
tinued healthy ever since ; they feed them on 
bread, greens, and fresh-water fish. We noticed 
their manner of feeding; the keeper occasionally 
giving them some bread during our stay, which 
they took with their fore feet, rising almost up- 
right upon their hind legs for that purpose, and at 
the same time making a plaintive noise, like the 
faint crying of a young child. They feed in the 
posture of a rat, holding the bread firmly between 
their paws till the whole is consumed. The hind 
feet are very strongly webbed, and covered with 
short black hair. The tail is much thicker to- 
wards the base than the apex, and is about half 
the length of the body. BufFon tells us “ that 
the continual habit of keeping the tail and pos- 
terior parts in the water appears to have changed 
* September 1805 
