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Chap. XIII

CURIOSITIES RESPECTING ANIMALS.-(Continued.) The Beaver, and its Habitations-The Mole-The Frog-The Toad-The Rhinoceros-Crocodiles and Alligators-Fossil Crocodile-The Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus-The Marmot, or Mountain Rat, of Switzerland.

Nature's unnumber'd family combine In one beneficent, one vast design; E'en from inanimates to breathing man,- A heaven-conceiv'd, heaven-executed plan; Onward, from those who soar or lowly creep, The wholesome equipoise through all to keep, As faithful agents in earth, sea, and air, The lower world to watch with constant care; Her due proportion wisely to conserve:- A wondrous trust, from which they never swerve.

Pratt It would not be consistent with the plan of this work to embrace the whole natural history of the animal and vegetable kingdom. This is a Book of Curiosities; and it is our intention to present the reader with a sketch of the most remarkable things in the universe: our present subject, therefore, being curiosities respecting animals, we shall commence with- THE BEAVER. - This animal was known to the ancients for its possession of that sebaceous matter called castor, secreted by two large glands near its genitals and anus, and of which each animal has about two ounces; but they appear to have been unacquainted with its habits and economy, with that mental contrivance and practical dexterity, which in its natural state so strikingly distinguish it. Beavers are found in the most northern latitudes of Europe and Asia, but are most abundant in North America.

In the months of June and July, they assemble in large companies to the number of two hundred, on the banks of some water, and proceed to the formation of their establish ment. If the water be subject to risings and fallings, they erect a dam, to preserve it at a constant level; where this level is naturally preserved, this labour is superseded. The length of this dam is occasionally eight feet. In the preparation of it, they begin with felling some very high, but not extremely thick tree, on the border of a river, which can be made to fall into the water; and, in a short time, this is er fected by the united operation of many, with their fore-teeth, the branches being afterwards cleared by the same process A multitude of smaller trees are found necessary to complete