56 Natural History and Huntintj of tlie Beaver. 



The highest dam I ever saw was only about 4 feet 6 inches ; but 

 the generahty of them are not above 2 or 3 feet. The action of the 

 water, by bringing down mud, gravel, or fallen leaves, strengthens the 

 dam, by making a sloping bank against it ; and, the willow sticks of 

 which it is composed sending forth their roots and shoots, the dam in 

 course of time becomes a fixture, bound together as strongly as well 

 could be. The winter floods almost invariably destroy the upper part 

 of the dam, which is reconstructed afresh every year. The shape of 

 the dam, is almost always semicircular, with the crown of the arch 

 down stream, thus reversing the prder of things ; but I have no doubt 

 this is in consequence of the heads of the first or principal trees being 

 floated down stream when they are first thrown. The body of water 

 raised by these dams varies, of course, according to the fiill of the 

 original stream, from a small hole of 20 feet diameter to a lake of miles 

 in length. In the former case the beaver builds his house close to the 

 dam, so as to get depth of water, and there saves himself from any 

 hungry lyanther (Fells eoncolor, L.) or wolf, who might feel inclined to 

 indulge in beaver meat. The beaver also burrows into the banks of 

 streams, always taking care to have two entrances, one under (or close 

 to) the water, and a smaller air-hole on laud. With a good dog capi- 

 tal sport may be had on some of the smaller rivulets leading into or 

 out of a lake. The houses are formed of water-logged sticks, placed 

 horizontally in the water. They have always two or more entrances, 

 and a small chamber with a little grass for the beaver to lie on. The 

 top of the house is constructed very thick, to guard against attacks by 

 animals. Mud and roots are used to make the house solid ; but no 

 mud is seen from the outside, as the top is covered with loose sticks 

 left there by the beaver after taking the bark off". The houses are 

 generally about 4 feet in height, and about 6 feet in diameter on the 

 outside, and would hold about four beavers, though I have known 

 small houses to hold two only. 



The traps generally used in securing the beaver are large steel traps 

 with a strong spring at each end, and fastened with a chain, from 4 to 

 6 feet in length, to a pole, which is stuck in the bottom of the water as 

 far out as the chain will allow, so that the beaver, when he feels the 

 trap, may run into deep water ; and as he gets tired, the weight of trap 

 taking him down, he drowns. A beaver, when trapped, never tries 

 to get to land, but makes a dive for the deepest water ; and should the 

 water be shallower than four feet, he will, in a short time, amputate his 

 foot so as to relieve himself. He always takes his foot oft' at a joint, 

 and draws the sinews out of his shoulder instead of biting them 

 through. The stump heals up ; and I think the beaver is none the 



