preserve their communication with the pond. If this, at any time begins to be covered with ice, the ice is immediately broken, that the communication may not be cut off with the air.

IN these huts, the families of the beavers have their residence. The smallest of their cabins, contain one family, consisting generally of five or six beavers; and the largest of the buildings will contain from twenty to thirty. No society of animals, can ever appear better regulated, or more happy, than the family of beavers. The male and, the female, always pair. Their selection is not a matter of chance, or accident; but appears to be derived from taste, and mutual affection. In September, the happy couple lay up their store of provisions, for winter. This consists of bark, the tender twigs of trees, and various kinds of soft wood. When their provisions are prepared, the season of love and repose commences: And during the winter they remain in their cabins, enjoying the fruits of their labours, and partaking in the sweets of domestic happiness. Towards the end of winter, the females bring forth their young, to the number of three or four. Soon after, the male retires to gather fish, and vegetables, as the spring opens; but the mother remains at home, to nurse, and rear up the offspring, until they are able to follow their dams. The male occasionally returns, but not to tarry, until the fall of the year. But if any injury is done to their public works, the whole society are soon collected, and join all their forces to repair the injury, which affects their commonwealth.

NOTHING can exceed the peace and regularity, which prevails in the families, and through the whole commonwealth of these animals. No discord or contention ever appears in any of their families. Every beaver knows his own apartment, and store house; and there is no pilfering or robbing from one another. The male and the female are mutually attached to, never prove unfriendly, or desert one another. Their provisions are collected, and expended, without any dissention. Each knows its own family, business, and property; and they are never seen to injure, oppose, or interfere with one another, The same order and tranquility prevail, through the commonwealth. Different societies of beavers, never make war upon one another, or upon any other animals. When they are attacked by their enemies, they instantly plunge into the water, to escape their pursuit: And when they cannot escape, they fall an easy sacrifice.

In the arts necessary for their safety, the beavers rise to great eminence. The situation, direction, form, solidity, beauty, and durability of their dams, are equal to any thing of the kind, which has ever been performed by man. They always form a right judgment, which way the tree will fall And when it is nearly cut down, they appoint one of their number, to give no tice by a stroke of his tail, when it begins to fall. With their tails, they measure the lengths of their dams, of the stakes they are to use, of a breach that is made in their works, and of the length of the timber that is necessary to repair it. When an enemy approaches their domin.

ions, the beaver which makes the discovery, by striking on the water with his tail, gives notice to the whole village of the approaching danger and all of them instantly plunge into the water. And when the hunters are passing through their country, some of their number appear to be centinels, to give notice of their approach.

THE colour of the beaver is different, accor ding to the different climates, which they inhabit. In the most northern parts, they are generally black; in Vermont they are brown; and their colour becomes lighter as we approach towards the south. Their fur is of two sorts, all over their bodies. That which is longest, is generally about an inch long, but on the back, it sometimes extends to two inches, gradually shortening towards the head, and tail. This part is coarse, and of little use. The other part of the fur consists of a very fine and thick down, about three quarters of an inch long, so soft that it feels like silk, and is that, which is used in manufactories. Castor, of so much use in medicine, is produced from the body of the beaver. It is contained in four bags, in the lower belly.

THE largest of these animals, of which I have any certain information, weighed sixty three pounds and an half: But it is only in a situation remote from, and undisturbed by the frequent appearances of men, that they attain their greatest magnitude, or their highest perfection of society. The beaver has deserted all the southern parts of Vermont, and is now to be found only in the most northern, and uncultiva ted parts of the state,

THE MUSKRAT seems to be a smaller kind of beaver, resembling it in every thing but its tail. This is also an amphibious animal, and forms a cabin of sticks and mud, in some stagnant water; but is less fearful of the approaches of men, and affords a very strong musk. These animals are to be found, in very considerable numbers, in our creeks, and lakes; but are much less numerous, than they were formerly. The muskrat, in this part of America, is about fifteen inches in length; the greatest magnitude I have known is five pounds and three quarters of a pound. A litter of these muskrats, will frequently amount to four, five, and sometimes six.

ANOTHER of our amphibious animals, is the MINK. It always resides in the neighborhood of rivers, ponds, or lakes; and provides a place of residence, by burrowing into the earth. The mink is about twenty inches in length; his legs are short, his colour brown, and his fur is more valuable than that of the muskrat. One of the largest which I have known, weighed four pounds and one quarter of a pound. The female produces two or three, at a birth.

THE OTTER is a voracious animal, of great activity and fierceness. When it is fully grown, it is five or six feet long; with sharp and strong teeth; short legs, and membranes in all his feet; and fitted either for running or swimming. The otter explores the rivers and ponds in search of fish, frogs, water rats, and other small aninals: And when these are not to be had, he ves on the boughs and bark of young, or quatic trecs. He has generally been ranked

among the amphibious animals, which can live either in the air, or water; but he is not properly an amphibious animal, for he cannot live without respiration, any more than the land animals. The female is in heat in the winter, and bears her young in the month of March; the litter generally consists of three or four. The fierceness and strength of the old otters, is such, that the dog can seldom overcome them: And when they cannot escape, they will attack the hunter with great rage. The colour of this animal is black, and its fur is much esteemed. The otter formerly abounded very much in our creeks, and rivers; and especially in those, which empty themselves into Lake Champlain On this account, one of them still bears the name of Ottercreek; but the animal is now become scarce. The largest otter, of which I have a particular account, weighed twenty nine pounds and an half.

To this account of the quadrupeds of Vermont, I shall subjoin some reflections on the general state of these animals in America.

The enumeration very imperfect. Our accounts of the quadrupeds in this, and in every part of America, must be viewed as greatly imperfect. The descendants of Europe have settled along the sea coasts, and they have penetrated to the lakes, and most of the navigable rivers. But the internal parts of S. America, are but little known: And all that immense tract of country in N. America, which lies to the north, and to the west of the lakes, is wholly unexplored. It is not to be doubted, but these extensive regions, abound with quadrupeds: Of what spe