152 THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



we came, at the depth of a few inches, to a mass of 

 sticks and cuttings of various 

 ^^' "' sizes imbedded in dry earth or 



muck, of which the roof was com- 

 posed. When these materials had 

 been removed and the chamber 

 uncovered, we found the roof very 

 cleverly supported by three poles, 

 as shown in the diagram (Fig. 12). 



Arransrement of Poles to -\t-i n d a. -\-\ • -\ 



„ ^T, ^ ^T , -No- 1 was b leet 11 mcnes 



form Kooi of Lodge. 



long, about 2 inches thick, and 

 extended entirely across the chamber into the walls 

 on either side. No. 2 was 4 feet 3 inches long, about 

 2i inches thick, and rested upon the wall and also 

 upon pole No 1. And No. 2 was 4 feet long, of the 

 same thickness, and rested the one end upon the 

 wall and the other upon No. 2. Upon these was 

 a network of smaller poles and sticks filled in with 

 muck. The three principal poles formed a perfect and 

 well-contrived support for the roof. Whether this was 

 a new or an old lodge we had no means of ascertain- 

 ing; and, therefore, it did not necessarily follow that 

 they were so arranged by design. If an old lodge, 

 these poles were probably once upon the top, and had 

 come into their present position by the gradual pro- 

 gress of the settlement and decay of the materials 

 underneath, which was followed by their removal from 

 the roof of the chamber within as it was built upon 

 above. The magnitude of the canal is an evidence 

 of its great age, but this again is no evidence of the 

 age of the lodge, which may have been erected after 

 the latter was excavated. An examination of beaver 

 lodges shows quite clearly that they can be continued 



