SAMUEL HEARN'E'S ARTICLE ON THE BEAVER. 307 



of Avhich the beaver make choice for building their houses on in 

 preference to another; for they sometimes build on points, some- 

 times in the hollow of a log, and often on small islands ; they 

 always choose, however, these parts that have such a depth of 

 water as will resist the frost in winter, and prevent it from freez- 

 ing to the bottom. 



The beavers that build their houses on small rivers or creeks, 

 in which the water is liable to be drained off when the back sup- 

 plies are dried up by the frost, are wonderfully taught by instinct 

 to provide against that evil by making a dam quite across the 

 river, at a convenient distance from their houses. This I look 

 upon as the most curious piece of workmanship that is performed 

 by the beaver ; not so much for the neatness of the work as for 

 its strength and real service ; and at the same time it discovers 

 such a degree of sagacity and foresight in the animal of approach- 

 ing evils, as is little inferior to that of the human species, and is 

 certainly peculiar to these animals. 



The beaver dams differ in shape according to the nature of 

 the place in which they are built. If the water in the river 

 or creek has but little motion, the dam is almost straight; 

 but when the current is more rapid, it is always made with a 

 considerable curve, convex toward the stream. The aiaterials 

 made use of in these dams are drift-wood, green willows, birch 

 and poplar, if they can be got; also mud and stones, intermixed 

 in such a manner as must evidentl}^ contribute to the strength of 

 the dam ; but in these dams there is no other order or method 

 observed, except that of the work being carried on with regular 

 success, and all the parts being made of equal strength. 



In places which have been long frequented by beavers, undis- 

 turbed, their dam, by frequent repairing, becomes a solid bank, 

 capable of resisting a great force both of water and ice ; and as 

 the willow, poplar, and birch generally take root and shoot up, 

 they, by decrees, form a kind of regular-planted hedge, which I 

 have seen in some places so tall, that birds have built their nests 

 among the branches. 



Th(3ugh the beaver which build their houses in lakes, and 

 other standing waters, may enjoy a sufficient quantity of their 

 favorite element without the assistance of a dam, the trouble of 

 getting wood and other necessaries to their habitation without 

 the help of a current, must, in some measure, counterbalance the 



