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No. XXXV. 



Facts and Observations relative to the. beaver of Nor tli- America. 

 Collected by Mr. John Heckewelder, in answer to Queries pro- 

 posed by Professor Barton. — Communicated to the Society by 

 Professor Barton. 



Read November 16th, 1804. 



I. Pemaholend, a famous Beaver-Trapper, an aged and 

 much respected Delaware-Indian, and a friend of mine, gives 

 the following account. 



The Beavers build their dams for the safety of themselves 

 and their young; and in order to convey food to their houses. 

 They are very particular in chusing the ground or situation 

 upon which they intend to build. They always, in the first 

 place, carefully examine, whether there be near them a suf- 

 ficiency of trees and shrubs, especially Aspin, Sassafras, and 

 Shellbark-Hickery near at hand, so that they need not venture 

 too far out, to cut them : for the barks of these trees are their 

 principal foods. 



They carefully examine the run or brook ; whether it be per- 

 manent, or does not dry up in the summer season, and whe- 

 ther there be a sufficient quantity of water to extend or enlarge 

 the dam, if occasion should require it. 



Having surveyed the ground well, and chosen the time when 

 the waters are neither too high nor too low, they cut down 

 bushes, and drag and lay them in a line for the foundation, 

 which, at this time, has the appearance of a brush-fence. 

 They sometimes make one or more offsets, altering their course 

 as they think best, both for the security of the dam, and to give 

 them advantages. 



The foundation being finished, they cut down small trees, 

 from six to twelve, and even fifteen inches, in diameter; and 

 these they cut up into blocks, of three, four, five, and some- 

 times six feet in length. These blocks they draw by their teeth» 

 walking backwards, to the brush foundation, and place, in a 

 sloping direction, every -block, with one end on the brush, 



