BEAVER LODGES AND BURROWS. 155 



The roof of the passage-way within the walls of 

 the lodge, and for a short distance without, was 

 rounded or arched quite regularly, and constructed 

 with sticks; but for the remainder of the way to the 

 canal it was ground excavation, the roof being 

 strengthened by the roots of alder bushes under 

 which it ran. After leaving the chamber, the roof 

 of the passage-way descended so as to intersect the 

 water at a distance of 3i feet, after which the pas- 

 sage was full of water out to the canal, which it en- 

 tered 3 feet below the surface. The floor of the en- 

 trance or passage-way, just out of the chamber of the 

 lodge, was sprinkled over with short and slender 

 twigs of willow, about 6 inches long and i of an inch 

 thick, which were evidently designed for young beavers. 

 They were green and fresh cuttings, some of them 

 peeled of their bark and thrown out of the chamber, 

 and others with the bark on ready for use. I made 

 a small bundle of these tit-bits for young beavers, and 

 preserved them as a memorial of this lodge. 



The other, or beaver entrance, opened out from the 

 chamber on the canal side, and, after descending for 

 a short distance, turned abruptly to the left, after 

 which it ran under ground nearly in a straight line 

 to the river, as before stated. 



Measurements of Beaver Entrance. 



Width at edge of chamber 1 foot 8 inches. 



Depth of water in same, at ditto 10 " 



Height of entrance above water 6 " 



Total height from bottom to roof of entrance 1 foot 4 " 



Length of passage-way 11 feet 6 " 



Short cuttings might have been carried into the 

 chamber through this passage, but not those of any 



