188 THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



the presence of short cuttings lodged here and there 

 in the pile. Having in repeated instances seen and 

 pulled out of these brush-heaps short cuttings of the 

 kind found in their store piles in the large ponds and 

 lakes, with the bark still upon them, the fact of their 

 presence suggested the probability that the principal 

 object of these brush-piles was to afford a safe lodg- 

 ment for short cuttings, upon which they m.ainly 

 rely. Without some such protection they would be 

 liable to be floated off by the strong currents, and 

 thus be lost to the beavers at the time when their 

 lives might depend upon their safe custody. A resort 

 to a brush-pile, anchored in the bed of the channel in 

 the manner described, as a means to the safety of 

 their winter wood, displays remarkable forecast and 

 intelligence. It may also throw some light on the 

 false lodges of the Upper Missouri, which may have 

 been constructed in part for a similar object. Whe- 

 ther this is the true explanation of their object is 

 not entirely certain; but it seems to be extremely 

 probable. 



The otter is a rapid and splendid swimmer, possess- 

 ing such agility of movement that he is able to catch 

 the quickest fish. It is doubtful whether the beaver 

 is quick enough in his motions, were he inclined to 

 adopt this mode of subsistence. There is no evidence 

 that he ever attacks or feeds upon fish. When 

 domesticated he will eat some kinds of animal food; 

 but he prefers farinaceous substances, and soon devel- 

 ops a special fancy for sugar. 



The flesh of the beaver has no particular excellence 

 to attract the epicure. It is used acceptably, how- 

 ever, in the same forms as the flesh of other animals. 



