HUNTING THE BEAVER. 377 



The beaver has long been the theme of the naturalist's admira- 

 tion, on account of its apparent sagacity and skill in building its 

 habitation. They are not particular in the site they select for 

 their dwellings, but if in a lake or pond where a dam is not re- 

 quired, they are careful to build where the water is sufficiently 

 deep. The materials used in constructing their dams, are the 

 trunks and branches of small birch, mulbeny, willow, poplar, &c. 

 The strength of their teeth,' and their perseverance may be esti- 

 mated by the size of the trees they cut down. Dr. Best informs 

 us that he has seen a mulberry tree, eight inches in diameter, 

 which had been gnawed down by the beaver. These are cut in 

 such a manner as to fall into the water, and then floated towards 

 the site of the dam. The figure of the dam varies according as 

 the stream has a gentle or a rapid current. Along with the trunks 

 and branches of trees they intermingle mud and stones, to give 

 greater security, and the dams remain long after the beavers have 

 been exterminated. The dwellings of the beaver are formed of 

 the same materials as the dam, and are adapted in size to the 

 number of the inhabitants. These are seldom more than four old 

 and six or eight young ones. The walls are very skillfully and 

 strongly constructed, and the whole fabric is a curious evidence 

 of the sagacity of the animal. 



To capture beavers residing on a small river or creek, the 

 Indians find it necessary to stake the stream across to prevent the 

 animals from escaping, and then they try to ascertain where the 

 vaults or washes in the banks are situated. This can only be 

 done by those who are very experienced in such explorations 

 and is thus performed : The hunter is furnished with an ice-chise 

 lashed to a handle four or five feet in length ; with this -nstrument 

 he strikes against the ice as he goes along the edge of the banks. 

 The sound produced by the blow informs him when he is opposite 

 one of these vaults. When one is discovered, a hole is cut through 

 the ice of sufficient size to admit a full-grown beaver, and the search 

 is continued until as many of the places of retreat are discovered as 

 possible. During the time the most expert hunters are thus occu- 

 p.ed, the others with the women are busy in breaking into the 



