OBSERVATIONS ON THP: BEAVER. 9S 



In laying up his Avinter's stock of provision, he cuts 

 bhick asli, white maple, l)irch, willow, and poplar trees 

 from two to four inches in diameter, in such lengths as he 

 can handle and lays a tier on the bottom of his pond near 

 the dam with one end against the ciu'rent fastened in the 

 mud. while the other rises a little above the bottom. 

 Then other tiers are lapped on like shingles on a building 

 till his supplj^ is laid up. When the small growth is 

 short he cuts trees from eight to fourteen inches in diam- 

 eter, and leaves them on the land, where, in case of need 

 before Spring, he gets through the ice and makes his 

 meals of the bark on the branches. I once saw a beaver 

 at work on an elm tree some twenty inches in diameter, 

 standing on the bank of the stream nearly a mile from his 

 home. The tree had apparently been knawed occasionally 

 for several years, and was about half cut through. What 

 the object could be I was at a loss to imagine, unless it 

 should be to maintain his character for industry, being al- 

 wavs at work "like a beaver." 



The beaver is a thick set, heavy animal, moderate and 

 clumsy in his motions on land, but quite active in the wa- 

 ter, and travels several miles in a night, always by water. 

 He has been represented as very cautious and shy. This 

 is not true until he has been educated by being once in the 

 irons and using his^own incisors on his own foot or leg. 

 He then seems to look about for the cause of his calamity, 

 and recollecting there was a man about his residence when 

 the trouble came, he correctly charges it upon him, and 

 comes to the general conclusion that all men are villains 

 and always to be shunned. Ever after this if a man comes 

 near his premises he leaves home and friends before the 

 next morning. One case in proof of this, among several 

 within my knowledge, happened in Upper Canada. Two 

 men, who supposed they understood the habits of the bea- 

 ver, found the works of one, and prepared to take him. 

 But after a week's trial, they found he was missing. They 

 pursued and found him on difterent streams the third time, 

 with like success. Before they found him the fourth time. 



