"His tail is very broad and flat at the end, and might be used very well for a trowel; but when he builds his house he does not cut down trees, and place them first, and then fill up the cracks with mud-mortar; but all the sticks and mud (and stones too when the beaver can get them), are first mixed up together, and the beaver builds his house with this from the very foundation. As soon as he has placed a lump of this stuff upon the wall, he turns round and gives it a blow with his flat tail; and that, boys, is all he does with his tail for a trowel. Sometimes he slaps his tail upon the water when he is swimming; and some persons have supposed that this was done by the king, or ruler, to call his workmen. It may be so, but I do not believe it, because they almost always dive as soon as they have slapped the water; and I think it is probably a part of their motion in diving. In the autumn they cover the outside of their houses with mud, and they walk over it as they are at work, and their tails drag along upon it; and this I expect made persons first suppose that they were plastering it, with the tail for a trowel. When they are caught and kept, boys, they still keep up this fashion of slapping with the tail; so that I rather think it is part of the nature of the animal. "At another time, perhaps, I will tell you more about the beaver; but it is now late, and I must bid you good morning." "Good day, Uncle Philip." CONVERSATION VII. _Uncle Philip talks to the Children about Animals that throw Dirt with a Spade; and about an Animal with a Hook; and about one that is a Wire-drawer._ "Boys, I have some men at work digging a small ditch for me, and I wish to see them; will you go with me?" "Oh, yes--very gladly, Uncle Philip; for you will be sure to tell us of something curious before we come home." "Come on, then: yonder are the men at work; they have been very industrious, I see." "But, Uncle Philip, look! There is one of the men putting a bottle to his mouth. Is that right?" "Yes, boys, right enough; for the bottle has nothing but molasses and water in it; and the man is thirsty, I suppose. I would not employ him if he brought a bottle of spirits out with him, for two reasons. In the first place, I think that I ought not to encourage a man who gets drunk, by employing him; for I would rather give my money to a sober man who will not spend it for rum and brandy, but will take care of his family: and, in the second place, a drunkard would not work faithfully without being watched all the time. I never knew a drunkard who was really and honestly an industrious man." "See, Uncle Philip, how strong that man is; what a large spadeful of dirt he throws out!" "Yes, I see, boys: do you think that men had the first spades in the world?" "Ah! now you are going to tell us something about tools among animals: that is good; we like to hear of that. What animal is it that has a spade?"