BEAVER LODGES AND BURROWS. 



149 



The floor of the chamber was hard, level, and 

 clean, with small quantities of dried grass scattered 

 here and there, but much decayed; showing that the 

 lodge had been for some time deserted. At the two 

 points where the walls of the lodge intersect the 

 banks were the entrances. As the dam had been cut 



Fig. 11. 



Bank Lodge. Ground Plan. 



through and the river drawn down nearly to its orig- 

 inal level, an excellent opportunity was afforded to 

 examine these entrances where they came through 

 into the chamber, and also the arched way which led 

 down to the bed of the stream. The upper one was 

 the wood entrance, or, at least, the most convenient 

 for that purpose; although both were nearly straight, 

 with a gradual descent, and surprisingly well con- 

 structed. The edges or rims of these passages, where 

 they entered the chamber, were as hard, smooth, and 

 regular as if finished with a mason's trowel; the 

 covered way over each was constructed with a mass 



