220 THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



hind feet so as to bring it across their back, they will 

 carry it, with the opposite end dragging on the ground, 

 for a considerable distance, walking nearly erect on 

 their hind feet. Their tracks in the snow are often 

 seen, with the marks of a bush or limb by their side, 

 showing that it was held in the mouth and passed 

 across the shoulder, the ends dragging on the snow 

 upon the side opposite to that on which it was held. 

 They have also been seen swimming in their ponds, 

 carrying small branches in the same manner. 



In cutting down trees, they either sit or stand upon 

 their hind legs, and placing their fore feet against the 

 tree, gnaw round and round, making the first incision 

 about three inches wide and an inch deep, and each 

 successive one wider and deeper until the tree falls. 

 I have found these trees in all stages of their progress 

 in cutting. Three beavers have been seen at work 

 together gnawing at the same tree, which is as many 

 as could conveniently find a place. With this num- 

 ber, two nights at most would give ample time to fell 

 a tree a foot in diameter. After the tree falls, they 

 retire for a short time, until the woods are again still, 

 when the whole family come out and commence cut- 

 ting off and reducing the limbs to short lengths to be 

 carried to the pond, and thence to the winter pile. A 

 small portion only of the limbs of a large tree are 

 used. They select such as are most convenient for 

 cutting and removing, or are preferred for other 

 reasons. Small trees, a few inches in diameter, are 

 removed bodily. The number of trees of different 

 sizes cut down each season in a well stocked beaver 

 district is surprisingly great. In places they obstruct 

 the passage through the woods, although this occurs 



