AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



391 



The dike, or mole, being thus completed, 

 their next care is to erect their several apart- 

 ments, which are either round or oval, and 

 divided into three stories, one raised above the 

 other : the first belov the level of the causey, 

 which is for the most part full of water ; the 

 other two above it. This little fabric is built 

 in a very firm and substantial manner, on the 

 edge of their reservoir, and always in such 

 divisions or apartments as above mentioned ; 

 that, in case of the water's increase, they may 

 move up a story higher, and be no ways in- 

 commoded. If they find any little island con- 

 tiguous to their reservoir, they fix their man- 

 sion there, which is then more solid, and not 

 so frequently exposed to the overflowing of the 

 water, in which they are not able to continue 

 for any length of time. In case they cannot 

 pitch upon so commodious a situation, they 

 drive piles into the earth, in order to fence and 

 fortify their habitation against the wind as well 

 as the water. They make two apertures, at 

 the bottom, to the stream ; one is a passage to 

 their bagnio, which they always keep neat 

 and clean ; the other leads to that part of the 

 building where every thing is conveyed, that 

 will either soil or damage their upper apart- 

 ments. They have a third opening, or door- 

 way, much higher, contrived for the preven- 

 tion of their being shut up and confined, when 

 the frost and snow has closed the apertures of 

 the lower floors. Sometimes they build their 

 houses altogether upon dry land ; but then 

 they sink trenches five or six feet deep, in order 

 to descend into the water when they see con- 

 venient. They make use of the same mate- 

 rials ; and are equally industrious in the erec- 

 tion of their lodges, as their dikes. Their walls 

 are perpendicular, and about two feet thick. 

 As their teeth are more serviceable than saws, 

 they cut off all the wood that projects beyond 

 the wall. After this, when they have mixed 

 up some clay and dry grass together, they 

 work it into a kind of mortar, with which, by 

 the help of their tails, they plaster all their 

 works, both within and without. 



The inside is vaulted, and is large enough 

 for the reception of eight or ten beavers. In 

 case it rises in an oval figure, it is for the 

 generality abovf twelve feet long, and eight or 

 ten feet broad. If the number of inhabitants 

 increase to fifteen, twenty, or thirty, the edifice 

 is enlarged in proportion. I have been credibly 



informed, that four hundred beavers have been 

 discovered to reside in one large mansion- 

 house, divided into a vast number of apart- 

 ments, that had a free communication one with 

 another. 



All these works, more especially in the 

 northern parts, are finished in August, or Sep- 

 tember at farthest ; at which time they begin 

 to lay in their stores. During the summer 

 they are perfect epicures; and regale them- 

 selves every day on the choicest fruits and 

 plants the country affords. Their provisions, 

 indeed, in the winter season, principally consist 

 of the wood of the birch, the plane, and some 

 few other trees, which they steep in water, 

 from time to lime, in such quantities as are 

 proportioned to the number of inhabitants. 

 They cut down branches from three to ten 

 feet in length. Those of the largest dimensions 

 are conveyed to their magazines by a whole 

 body of beavers ; but the smallest by one only : 

 each of them, however, takes a different way, 

 mid has his proper walk assigned him, in order 

 that no one labourer should interrupt another 

 in the prosecution of his work. Their wood- 

 yards are larger or smaller, in proportion to 

 the number in the family : and, according to 

 the observation of some curious naturalists, 

 the usual stock of timber, for the accommoda- 

 tion of ten beavers, consists of about thirty feet 

 in a square surface, and ten in depth. These 

 logs are not thrown up in one continued pile, 

 but laid one across the other, with intervals, 

 or small spaces between them, in order to 

 take out, with the greater facility, but just such 

 a quantity as they shall want for their imme- 

 diate consumption, and those parcels only, 

 which lie at the bottom in the water, and have 

 been duly steeped. This timber is cut again 

 into small particles, and conveyed to one of 

 their largest lodges, where the whole family 

 meet, to consume their respective dividends, 

 which are made impartially, in even and equal 

 portions. Sometimes they traverse the woods, 

 and regale their young with a more novel and 

 elegant entertainment. 



Such as are used to hunt these animals, 

 know perfectly well that green wood is much 

 more acceptable to them than that which is 

 old and dry ; for which reason they plant a 

 considerable quantity of it round their lodge- 

 ments ; and as they come out to partake of it, 

 they either catch them in snares, or take them 



