THE liEAYl-.Il. 245 



\Vhcn there is a lake conveniently situated for their 

 purpose, this Herculean work of constructing a 

 *n<iind is unnecessary, and they never fail of chusing 

 Mich a situation if the face of the country afford them 

 an opportunity. 



The mole being completed, their next care is the 

 erection of their houses. These are built on pile* 

 close to the edge, of the water, and are generally of 

 a form either circular or oval. They mostly consist 

 of three stories, of which the first is below the level 

 iff tin- (Uivn, and consequently full of water. The 

 asmrtiiients are about four or five feet in diameter, 

 and the walls about U\o feet thick, neatly plastered 

 on the inside with day. At the top the building is 

 i liki! an oven, and tesemblcs a dome. These 

 i-'Jiiiees arc constructed with such solidity as to be 

 impenetrable to the heaviest rains, and to defy the 

 force of the most impetuous winds. Each house has 

 two openings, one for an excursion by land, the other 

 for a ready entrance into the water, .in order at once 

 to render convenient the procuring of subsistence and 

 to facilitate the means of escape in case of surprise. 

 The number of houses in one of their settlements, is 

 usually from fifteen to twenty-five. Each family h;is 

 its own district, its own magazines, and its own habi- 

 tation ; and no strangers are ever suffered to intrude. 

 3::.ch beaver has its own bed of moss, and each family 

 its own hoard of winter provision, which consists 

 principally of the bark and boughs of trees. The 

 latter they pile up with great regularity, and use it 

 as their wants require. In the front of their house?, 

 facing the water, they leave au opening, which serves 

 as a window, and at the same time as a balcony, 

 where they can sit and enjoy the fresh air. They 

 spend a groat part of the day in bathing, -uid almost 

 always retain in the water an upright posture, their 

 head and fore parts not being often immersed. 



No predaceous animals daxe attack the united re- 

 public of beavers in their fortified settlements. Man 

 is the only enemy they have to fear. Aiinmg them- 



