improbable, that, before the lapse of another century, very few will be left on the North American Continent. When any person approaches their dams in the Summer, the beavers give warning to each other by striking their tails against the water, with such force, that the noise occasioned by this singular process may be heard distinctly at the distance of several miles.

It is said, that they might easily be domesticated. Mr. Fothergale, the editor of the Upper Canada Gazette, seems, from his observations on the subject, to be of opinion, that, if proper enclosures were made for them, they would yield the enterprising farmer a more extensive and a more certain profit, than any other animal with which we are acquainted. A large capital would, however, be required, to make proper inclosures, and other arrangements necessary for their reception. The skin of a beaver is in Canada now worth about 12 shillings and 6 pence, which is at least a dollar and a half less than the value of a full-grown otter's skin.

The MUSK RAT has been said, by some writers, to be a diminutive kind of beaver. But, if I know any thing about these animals, and I have seen several hundreds of them,-they are totally different. The only similarity which exists between the two, is in their mode of life. They build a rude kind of habitation in still shallow water, and subsist on vegetables. Their heads and tails resemble those of the common rat; but their fur is much

longer and of a darker colour. They derive the name of “ Musk Rats" from their being furnished with glands, that separate a substance which emits a very strong odour. They are at least four times the size of a common rat, an animal entirely unknown in Upper Canada.

There are several kinds of MICE in Canada, with the names of many of which I am little acquainted. Field-mice and Shrew-mice are exceedingly numerous; and I have seen black mice, nearly as large as a common rat. The shrew-mouse is the smallest of all quadrupeds, and feeds upon insects.

MOLES are quite common in Canada, and, I believe, of various species; with the distinctions of which, I am entirely unacquainted.

The URCHIN, or HEDGE-HOG, is about eighteen inches long, and proportionally thick. In these Provinces, he is called "the Porcupine ;" but he does not resemble that animal in any thing except his quills, which are only four inches long, nearly as thick as those of a duck, and so extremely hard and well-furnished with innumerable barbs, that they frequently prove fatal to dogs which have the hardihood to attack the urchins. It is impossible to extricate them, when once they have penetrated the skin; but they always work a way out, through some other part of the body. Very few dogs can be prevailed on to engage them; and such as do attempt it, are frequently vanquished, and always severely injured. The Canadians consider the flesh of this animal a most delicious morsel; but they VOL. I.

Q

will eat any creature whatever, from the frog to the buffalo; whether it be carnivorous, graminivorous, or amphibious. Yet, for aught that I know to the contrary, the Urchin's flesh may be very savoury and excellent. In its habits of life, it resembles the Wood-chuck, whose flesh is greatly superior to Canadian mutton.

The SEAL has been frequently seen in Lake Ontario; although its existence in this country was for a long time a matter of doubt. In February, 1821, one of them was caught upon the ice, in the neighbourhood of Kingston, and was exhibited in that town as a great curiosity.

The SEA-HORSE and SEA-COW are said still to exist in the Gulf and River of St. Lawrence.

LETTER XIII.

VARIOUS KINDS OF BIRDS AND AQUATIC FOWL THAT VISIT THE CANADAS-THE SWAN -GOOSE-LOON-HERON -CRANE-RED

SHANK

WILD-TURKEY

QUAIL-PIGEON.

MOCK-BIRD

THE BLUE JAY-WHIP-POOR-WILL, AND WHET-SAW-KING-BIRD, AND RED-BIRD THE WAR-BIRD, YELLOW-BIRD, AND SNOW-BIRD → THE HUMMING-BIRD, THE RAVEN, OWL, EAGLE, &c.

IN Summer there is a great variety of birds in Canada; but from the beginning of Winter to the opening of Spring, the forest is almost wholly deserted by the feathered tribe. The Pheasant, Blue Jay, Snow-bird and Wood-pecker, with one or two smaller birds the names of which I do not recollect to have ever heard, are all that appear sufficiently attached to Canada, to try the severity of its Winter climate.

It is remarkable, that, among this immense assemblage of "winged fowl" that frequent Canada during the Summer, there are no singing birds. Though this is undoubtedly the case, the Canadians do not think so; for, being ignorant of those countries in which every tree is vocal, and "every bush with nature's music rings," they imagine that all birds which

can chirrup and chatter, like a sparrow or a jay, are entitled to the appellation of " singing birds.” I once heard an English gentleman, who was greatly prejudiced against the Canadas, assert, that, in his opinion, the country bore evident marks of having incurred a particular degree of the Divine displeasure; and, for the enforcement of this eccentric notion, he urged, that the birds of Canada could not sing, the flowers emitted no scent, the men had no hearts, and the women no virtue.

Water-fowls are very numerous on the lakes and large rivers. The SWAN and CANADIAN GOOSE are constant frequenters of the lakes.

Ducks of various kinds are to be found in every part of the country. There are, I am confident, more than fifteen different species of these birds in the Upper Province. Many of them have a disagreeable fishy flavour; and some are entirely unfit for use. The quality of the Grey Duck's flesh is much superior to any other which I have tasted. The Wood Duck breeds in the tops of the highest trees.

HERONS, BITTERNS, CRANES, and REDSHANKS, though not very numerous, are frequently seen in Lower Canada: But in the Upper Province I have only observed the Crane and Redshank, and even these but very seldom.

WOODCOCKS, which are not much larger than the Snipe, are very numerous in the Western parts of Upper Canada.