THE BE A VER. 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 



