BEAVER CANALS, MEADOWS, AND TRAILS. 197 



Not the least interesting fact connected with this 

 canal is that of the great amount of labor necessary 

 for its excavation. It must have required many years 

 of continuous effort before it wns brought into its pres- 

 ent completed condition, both as to length and depth. 

 The canals are most likely cleaned out and deep- 

 ened from time to time, as materials from the surface 

 fall into them and obstruct the channel. The bottom 

 was covered with fine fibres and tendrils of tree roots, 

 and with decayed leaves, which made it soft and yield- 

 ing to the depth of a foot below the apparent bottom. 



There are several canals connected with this pond, 

 of which the four largest commence near the four lodges 

 situated upon its borders. It will be sufficient to de- 

 scribe one of those remaining, taking that immediately 

 opposite on the south side of the pond (Plate XIX.). 

 This canal is also excavated through the low ground, 

 and is filled to its extreme ends with water from the 

 pond. At the distance of one hundred and fifty feet 

 it reaches the first rise of ground, and the hard-wood 

 land, where it branches into two canals, one of which 

 is continued for one hundred feet, and the other for 

 one hmidred and fifteen feet along the base of high 

 and dry ground, covered with deciduous trees. Both 

 branches terminate with a vertical cut in dry sandy 

 soil, and are carried through the same low ground as 

 the main trunk, the surface rising but a few inches 

 above the level of the pond. Of its artificial char- 

 acter there can be no doubt. The measurements are 

 given upon the ground plan. 



This canal passed a number of knolls surmounted 

 with trees, under many of which burrows had been ex- 

 cavated. Evidences of this underground work were 



