The BEAVER
Is an amphibious animal; and, where the intruſion of man does not prevent, live together in a ſtate of civil government, and appear the only inſtance of brutes forming a regular community, governed by domeſtic laws. The time of aſſembling is about the months of June or July, when a ſociety is formed, which laſts the greater part of the year; the reſort is from all quarters, and ſometimes a troop of 200 or 300 aſſemble; the place of rendezvous is generally ſuitable for the colony, either on the banks of a lake, or on a running water. In the latter caſe, to guard againſt a ſudden ſwell of the river, a bank or dam is formed acroſs the ſtream, frequently of an hundred feet long; this is done by firſt driving ſtakes five or ſix feet long, placed on a row, with ſmall twigs interwoven, and the interfaces filled with clay; this dam is 10 or 12 feet thick at the baſe, and gradually diminiſhes to 2 or 3 at the top. The ſide next the head of water is ſloped, the other is perpendicular.
The dam or mole being finiſhed, the next care is to erect the ſeveral apartments or dwellings, which they build on piles or ſtakes drove into the ground for that purpoſe, and are either round or oval, divided into ſtories, to ſecure a retreat from ſwelling floods. The firſt is below the level of the dam, and is uſually full of water; the walls are about 2 feet thick, made of earth, ſtones and ſticks, moſt artfully laid together; the inſide is neatly plaiſtered as with a trowel. Each houſe, which is about 8 feet above the water, has two openings, one into the water, the other towards the land. The ſize of the dwelling is proportioned to the number of Beavers which are to inhabit it, uſually from 10 to 30. It has been obſerved, that 400 Beavers have reſided in one large manſion, divided into a vaſt number of apartments, that had a free communication one with another. Theſe works are finiſhed by Auguſt or September; when they begin to lay in their ſtores, which conſiſts principally of the wood of the birch, the plane, &c. which they ſteep in water, in quantities proper for uſe; the ſummer food is freſh leaves and fruits; are not fond of fiſh.
The benefits reſulting from patient perſeverance have become proverbial, and a more ſtriking inſtance of the good effects cannot be given than the completion of theſe ſurpriſing works, which are begun by mere inſtinct, and are finiſhed by mere induſtry. In the labours of this ſociety every Beaver bears a part; ſome, by gnawing with their teeth, fell trees of great ſize, to ſerve as beams or piles; others drive them along the water, and, with their feet, ſcoop holes in which to place them; while others help to rear them up. Another party is employed in collecting twigs to weave between the ſtakes; a third in collecting earth, ſtones, and clay; while a fourth is buſied in beating or tempering the mortar, which is done with the tail; others are employed in carrying it on the broad part of the tail to proper places, and with the ſame inſtrument ram it between the piles, or plaiſter the houſes. A certain number of ſmart ſtrokes given with the tail, is a ſignal given by the overſeer for repairing to certain places to mend any defect, or at the approach of ſome enemy; and the whole ſociety attend with the readieſt aſſiduity.
The teeth of the Beaver are admirably adapted for cutting timber, or ſtripping the bark, to which purpoſes they are ſo frequently applied. Is an inoffenſive animal, and ſeeks ſafety rather in flight than conflict. The fur of the Beaver is of great ſervice in the hat trade; it alſo produces a valuable drug, called caſtoreum; are hunted, and taken in traps and ſnares; inhabit moſt northern climes, but are no where found in ſuch abundance as in Canada in America. The trade for Beavers furs with the Indians is a ſource of great wealth to the Hudſon’s Bay Company. The length of the Beaver is about 2 feet, height 1; tail 4 inches broad, 1 or 1½ thick. The colour a fine cheſnut brown; the hair of different lengths and fineneſs; is the only animal whoſe toes on the hind feet are joined by a membrane, while thoſe on the fore feet are not; the front feet ſupply the place of hands, ſimilar to the Squirrel.
