implicit faith to every thing that has been written, even by the most respectable authors, concerning them, where these authors have not themselves witnessed the facts they relate.

Beavers generally live in associated communities, consisting of as many as two or three hundred individuals; and they inhabit extensive dwellings, which they raise to the height of six or eight feet above the surface of the water, They select, if possible, a large pond; ̧ in which they raise their houses on piles, forming them either of a circular or oval shape, with arched tops, and thus giving them, on the outside, the appearance of a dome, while within they somewhat resemble an oven.

The houses are constructed, with the utmost ingenuity, of earth, stones, and sticks, cemented together, and plastered in the inside with surprising neatness. The walls are about two feet thick; and the floors so much higher than the surface of the water, as always to prevent them from being flooded. Some of the houses have only one floor; others have three. The number of Beavers in each house is from two to thirty.

During the summer-time, they quit their houses, and ramble about from place to place, sleeping under the covert of bushes, near the water-side. On the least noise, they betake themselves into the water for secu rity; and they have sentinels, who, by a certain cry, give notice of the approach of danger. In the winter they never stir out, except to their magazines under the water; and during that season they become excessively fat.

In one of his excursions into the northern parts of Louisiana, M. du Pratz (who resided sixteen years in that country) gives us an account of a colony of Beavers, to many of whose operations he was himself a witness.

At the head of one of the rivers of Louisiana, in a very retired place, M. du Pratz found a Beaver dam. Not far from it, but hidden from the sight of the animals, he and his companions erected a hut, in order to watch the operations of these animals at leisure. They waited till the moon shone bright; and then, carrying in their hands branches of trees, in order to conceal themselves, they went with great care and silence to the

dam. M. du Pratz ordered one of the men to cut, as silently as possible, a gutter, about a foot wide, through it; and to retire immediately to the hiding-place.

"As soon as the water through the gutter began to make a noise (says this writer) we heard a Beaver come from one of the huts and plunge in. We saw him get upon the bank, and clearly perceived that he examined it. He then, with all his force, gave four distinct blows with his tail; when immediately the whole colony threw themselves into the water, and went to the dam. As soon as they were assembled, one of them appeared, by muttering, to issue some kind of orders; for they all instantly left the place, and went out on the banks of the pond in different directions. Those nearest to us were between our station and the dam, and therefore we could observe their operations very plainly. Some of them formed a substance resembling a kind of mortar; others carried this on their tails, which served as sledges for the purpose. I observed that they ranged themselves two and two, and that each animal of every couple loaded his fellow. They trailed the mortar, which was pretty stiff, quite to the dam, where others were stationed to take it; these put it into the gutter, and rammed it down with blows of their tails.

"The noise of the water soon ceased, and the breach was completely repaired. One of the Beavers then struck two blows with his tail; and instantly they all took to the water without any noise, and disappeared."

M. du Pratz and his companions afterwards retired to their hut to rest, and did not again disturb the animals till the next day. In the morning, however, they went to the dam, to see its construction; for which purpose it was necessary that they should cut part of it down. The depression of the water in consequence of this, together with the noise they made, roused the Beavers again. The animals seemed much agitated; and one of them, in particular, was observed several times to approach the labourers, as if to examine what passed. As M. du Pratz apprehended that they might run into the woods, if further disturbed, he advised his companions again to conceal themselves.

"One of the Beavers (continues our narrator) then

ventured to go upon the breach, after having several times approached and returned like a spy. He surveyed the place, and, with his tail, struck four blows, as he had done the preceding evening, with his tail. One of those that were going to work, passed close by me; and as I wanted a specimen to examine, I shot him. The noise of the gun made all the rest scamper off with greater speed than a hundred blows of the tail of the overseer could have done. By firing at them several times afterwards, the animals were compelled to run with precipitation into the woods. M. du Pratz then

examined their habitations.

Under one of the houses he found fifteen pieces of wood; with the bark in part gnawed off, apparently intended for food. And, round the middle of this house, which formed a passage for the Beavers to go in and out at, he observed no fewer than fifteen different cells.

Instances have occurred of Beavers having been domesticated. Major Roderfort, of New York, related to Professor Kalm, that, for a year and a half, he had in his house a tame Beaver, which was suffered to run about like a dog. The Major gave him bread; and sometimes fish, of which he was very greedy. As much water was put into a bowl as he wanted. All the rags and soft things he could lay hold off, he dragged into the corner where he was accustomed to sleep, and made a bed of them. The cat in the house, having kittens, took possession of his bed; and he did not attempt to interrupt her. When the cat went out, the Beaver often took one of the kittens between his paws, and held it to his breast to warın it, and seemed to dote upon it: as soon as the cat returned, he always restored to her the kitten. Sometimes he grumbled; but never attempted to bite.

In the year 1820, there were in the upper room at Exeter 'Change, London, two Beavers, which had been

What cruelty! Suppose an Angel, or some Superior Being was to employ himself in shooting or tormenting men, in order quietly to inspect their dwellings, would they patiently approve ?

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there some time. They were very tame, and would suffer themselves to be handled by the visitors; but most persons were alarmed, on approaching them, by the animals uttering their weak and plaintive cry. This noise they also frequently emitted during their play with each other. At times they were exceedingly gay and frolicsome, wrestling and playing with each other, as far as the limits of their small apartment would admit. They often sate upright to look about them, or to eat; and, if any thing moveable was given them to play with, they would drag it about, and seem highly pleased with it. They were in no instance observed to drag any thing about on their tails, or to make any attempts to do so. In all their manners these animals were extremely cleanly.

OF

THE SKUNK.
(Bradbury's Travels.)

the animal called the skunk, Mr. Bradbury remarks, that in its defence it discharges a few drops of a liquid so fœtid, that the stench can scarcely be endured by any animal. Clothes on which the smallest particle has fallen, must be buried in the earth for at least a month before they can be worn. This liquor is highly inflammable, and is secreted in a gland beneath the tail, from which it is thrown witl. a force that will carry it to the distance of three or four yards. Only a very few of the American dogs can be induced to attack it, and those are so powerfully affected by the horrid stench, that they continue to howl for a considerable time afterwards, and instinctively relieve themselves by scratching holes in the earth, into which they put their noses. The skunk belongs to the weasel tribe, is of a blackish colour, with fine parallel white stripes from the head along the back and sides to the tail.

THE BALD EAGLE.

(Dr. Dwight's Journal.)

THE Bald Eagle (falco leucocephalus is a bird of very great strength, size, and fierceness. A remarkable one was killed by Henry Nevins, of Hanover, State

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of Vermont. It was upwards of three feet in height. Although it weighed but twelve pounds, it was judged sufficiently stout and bold enough to have attempted, and even destroyed, the lives of calves, sheep, and lambs. Its wings, extended, measured seven feet eight inches, and its claws were two and one fourth inches in length.

A few years since a bald eagle was killed at Brookfield, in the county of Fairfield, which measured between the extremities of the wings almost nine feet. He had killed a calf the same morning.

This formidable bird is so inclined to solitude as not often to be seen, except at a distance. He builds his nest on high mountains, or solitary islands, or in other lonely places, where there is little danger of being disturbed. He is much less than the condor, but, think, more vigorous; and, when roused to violent exertion, more terrible.

Birds of prey in this country are of many kinds; yet, if we except the common or hen-hawk, they are few in number. It is a remarkable fact, that the

KING-BIRD, OR BEE EATER,

is an overmatch for any of them. This little animal, possessed of a sharp beak, unrivalled activity, and a spirit equally unrivalled, boldly attacks every other bird, and is always secure of victory. It is not a little amusing to see an enemy, so disproportioned in size and strength, vanquish the crow, the hawk, and the eagle. While on the wing he always rises above them; and, at short intervals, darting upon them with wonderful celerity, pierces them with his bill on the back and neck so painfully, that they make no efforts but to escape. Whenever they alight, he alights immediately over them, and quietly waits until they again take wing. Then he repeats the same severe discipline, until satisfied with victory and revenge he returns to his nest. This bird is an excellent defence of a garden against every enemy of the feather kind.

THE CROW

is easily taught to speak; as easily and as well, 1 believe, as the parrot, and, what is perhaps singular, to laugh. This is a very mischievous bird, whether