OF THE BEAVER INTO BRITAIX. 227 



the tree through above tlio top of the dam, lotting it fall to one 

 side, so that it did not foul the stream, and left it there. 



The pools formed by the dams serve as places of refuge when 

 the beavers are disturbed at their work, and they use them as 

 waterways for carriage of branches, etc. They have also from 

 these pools made burrows for some distance into the banks on the 

 water-level, each ending in a small chamber. Their principal 

 dwelling-place or house, if I may use that expression (beaver-lodge 

 is, I believe, the North- American term, where however they are 

 on a larger scale), is on the bank of the large pool. For the most 

 part the banks of the stream are steep, but a little way above the 

 large embankment there is a small level place, and this they 

 selected as the site. They began by burrowing into the bank from 

 the bottom of the water for about three or four feet, then upwards 

 about one foot, and there they scooped out a space large enough to 

 live in, breaking a hole through the top about six inches across, 

 which they covered with sticks and grass, placing some sticks also 

 perpendicularly to keep it open as a ventilator ; then as they con- 

 tinued to raise the dam, and thus raised the level of the water, they 

 continued also to build and enlarge the house, cutting their way up. 

 Their chamber is airy and clean, in which last respect they are very 

 particular. They enter their house from under water, where their 

 enemies cannot follow them, though, happily for the Bute beavers, 

 their chief enemy, the wolverine, which Bewick says is also called 

 the beaver-eater, has not yet been acclimatised by Lord Bute. The 

 top of the house is raised above the ground-level, and domed. The 

 occupiers are what auctioneers term "desirable tenants," for regu- 

 larly every autumn they carefully repair the outside of their house 

 by plastering it over with mud, and, so that they may better land 

 with the material, they have made themselves a landing- slip two 

 to tlu'ee feet broad at the base of the house, which also answers the 

 purpose of a foundation for its enlargement. Inside, the chamber 

 is formed above the water-level, and they lay for their beds wood- 

 shavings which they prepare in this manner — after using the bark 

 of a branch for food they place the stick on end, holding it with 

 their fore-feet, and then with their teeth they pare it down into 

 fine shavings. 



The branches of trees cut and brought down for winter food are 

 stored up in the water near the house. The depth of the water 

 here is now about four feet and a half, and when they begin to use 

 the food they begin from the bottom. Thus they are not cut off 

 from their supplies by ice or their enemies. Being mindful of the 

 scorn and derision with which the statement that they drive stakes 

 into the ground has been received by some writers, I dare not say 

 more than that stakes seem to be set up, within which to store the 

 food, and also that stakes appear to have been set up in some places 

 behind the embankments. The object of the dam seems to be to 

 secure a sufficient and uniform depth of water in all weather and at 

 all seasons, and of such a depth as that it shall not be entirely 

 frozen. A beaver will not go anywhere by land if he can go by 



