58 NATURAL HISTORY. 
fideration of the naturalift and philofopher, which it 
is impoffible to confider, without the greateft humilia- 
ticn to human pride. When we fee a beaver, with 
only its feet, teeth and tail, capable of building a hut, 
as commodious for itfelfand young, as a cottage can 
be rendered to a peafant, even with the aid of reafon 
and mechanical tools, what is the boafted fuperiority 
of man ! 
if they fix their ftation by a river fubject to floods, 
they build a dam or pier, which croffes the ftream, fo 
as to forma piece of water; but, if they fettle near 
a lake, not liable to inundation, they fave themfelves 
this treuble. ‘o form this dam or pier, they drive 
{takes of about five or fix feet in length, wattling each 
row with twigs, and filling the interftices with clay. 
That fide next the water is floped, and the other per- 
pendicular. The bottomis from ten to twelve feet 
thick, gradually diminifhing to the top, which is but 
two or three feet at moft. This dam is generally from 
eighty to an hundred feet inlength. ‘he greatnefs 
ef the work, compared with the {mailnefs of the arch- 
itect, however aftonifhing, is not more wonderful than 
its firmnefs and folidity. | 
Vhe houfes are oheteed near the fhore, in the water 
collected by the dams. ‘hey are either round or 
eval, andare built on piles. ‘he tops being vaulted, 
the infide refembles an oven, and the outfide a dome. 
The walls, which are two feet thick, are made of 
earth, ftones and fticks, and plaiftered with all the 
fkill and excellence of the moft expert mafon. Ev- 
ery houfe has two openings, one into the water, and 
the other towards the land.—‘Their height is about 
eight feet. From two to thirty beavers inhabit each 
dwelling; and, in each pond, there are from ten to 
twentyfive houfes: they have each a bed of mois ; 
and are fuch perfect epicures, that they daily regale 
on the choiceft plants and fruits which the country 
affords. 
This animal affords that. celebrated refinous fub- 
ftance, called Cafloreum, which is mixed mofit fue- 
ceisfully in feveral hy{teric and cephalic medicines. 
An oil is likewife extracted from it, called Oi! ef 
Caftor, which, while it remains in its liquid, unétuous 
ftate, is ufed for the cure of feveral diforders. : 

