THE BEAVER. 47 
of Bute, a space of ground has been walled in so that 
the Beavers cannot escape, and through this Beaver’s 
park runs a mountain stream. Left to themselves, 
they have quite altered the appearance of this stream, 
for they have built no fewer than three dams across 
it; the lowest is the largest and most firmly con- 
structed, as it would seem the Beavers were fully 
aware that it would have to bear the greatest 
pressure of water. In order to strengthen this dam, 
these intelligent animals have supported the down- 
stream surface of it with props of strong boughs, as 
artfully secured as though a human engineer had been 
at work. Immediately above this the Beavers have 
constructed their hut or home, consisting apparently 
of a large heap of drift wood; upon examination 
however, it appears that the sticks have been placed 
with regularity and order, so that the general 
appearance of the hut is not unlike that of a bird’s 
nest turned upside down. The Beavers have cut 
down a good many trees in their park, gnawing a 
wedge-shaped gap into one side of the tree until it 
totters, and then going round to the other side and 
gnawing the only portion of wood which prevents it 
from falling. If the felled log is too heavy for 
transport, they cut it into pieces, which they roll 
away separately. Although there have been one or 
two deaths, it is satisfactory to learn that these 
Beavers have bred in the island since their introduc- 
tion. In December, 1877, there were twelve known 
to be alive. They were reported to be very shy, 
retiring into their hut, or into the water, at the least 
