NORTHERN Goran. 235, 
preventing them from getting tothe landinWin- ,,,,. 
ter, they have not any barks to feed upon during —~ 
that feafon, except that of fuch fticks as they cut ““""" 
- down in Summer, and throw into the water op- 
pofite the doors of their houfes; and as they ge- 
_nerally eata great deal, the roots above mention- 
ed conftitute a chief part of their food during 
the Winter. In fummer they vary their diet, 
by eating various kinds of herbage, and fuch 
berries as grow near their haunts during that 
feafon. 
When the ice breaks up in the fpring, the bea- 
ver always leave their houfes, and rove about the 
whole Summer, probably in fearch of a more 
commodious fituation; but in cafe of not fuc- 
ceeding in their endeavours, they return again to 
their old habitations a little before the fall of the 
leaf, and Jay in their Winter ftock of woods, 
They feldom begin to repair the houfes till the 
froft commences, and never finifh the outer-coat 
till the cold is pretty fevere, as hath been already 
‘mentioned. 
When they fhift their habitations, or when the 
increafe of their number renders it neceflary to 
make fome addition to their houfes, or to erect 
new ones, they begin felling the wood for thefe 
purpofes early in the Summer, but feldom begin 
to build till the middle or latter end of Auguft, 
and never complete their houfes till the cold wea- 
ther be fet in. 
Not- 
