I 



162 THE ADV'ENTURES OF 



the common coon, with which all are familiar, 

 and always about the water. They are par- 

 ticularly adapted to the water, having webbed 

 feet, and the power to stay under the water 

 for a long time. They have a broad, flat tail 

 which they use as a trowel, and strong, heavy 

 teeth with which they cut down large trees. 

 They build houses of sticks and mud in the 

 shape of a circular arch, with the entrance 

 under the water, and have the different lodges 

 connected by pass ways. In order that they 

 may always have water to play in, they fre- 

 quently build large dams across the stream. 

 These dams are built of mud, sticks, logs and 

 even large trees, the latter they cut down with 

 their teeth at some point in the creek above 

 the dam, and carried to the proper place by 

 floating it down the current. To one who 

 never before saw a beaver town and dam, the 

 sight is as much of a wonder to him as any- 

 thing you could show him. But as space 

 is limited I will give the beaver a rest and 

 pass on. 



Leaving the beaver dam that had caused us 



