142 



THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



interwoven and imbedded in earth and loam, that it 

 was impossible to loosen them with our hands. About 

 a foot below the surface the walls were substantially 

 solid. With the aid of an axe, however, and after an 

 hour's hard labor, we succeeded in making an opening 

 through the roof about three feet in diameter, which 

 uncovered and disclosed the chamber very perfectly. 



Fig. 9. 



Ground Plan. Island Loda;e. 



It is shown in the annexed figure (Fig. 9). The roof 

 had settled down in the centre from the superincum- 

 bent weight, but not so far as to interfere with the 



