house is through one or more inclined passage- 

 ways or tunnels. The upper opening of these en- 

 trances is in the floor a few inches above the 

 water-level, and the lower opening in the bottom 

 of the pond under about three feet of water. 

 These extend at an angle through the solid 

 foundation of the house, are about one foot in 

 diameter and four to fifteen feet long, and are 

 full of water almost to floor-level. This dark, win- 

 dowless hut has no other entrance. 



Most beaver houses stand in a pond, though 

 a number are built on the shore and partly in the 

 water, and still others on the bank a few feet 

 away from the water. The external appearance 

 and internal construction of the houses are in a 

 general way the same, regardless of the situation 

 or size. Most beaver houses appear conical. 

 Measured on the water-line, they are commonly 

 found to be slightly elliptical. The diameter on 

 the water-line is from five to thirty-five feet, and 

 the height above water is from three to seven feet. 



A house may be built almost entirely of sticks, 

 or of a few sticks with a larger proportion of mud 

 and turf. In building, a small opening is left, 

 120 



