164 THE BEAVER. 



" In looking at the beaver, two things attract the 

 attention the broad flat tail, and the webbed hind feet. 

 The former is more than half the length of the body, 

 and coated with scales, which are mixed with short 

 hairs. In the water this animal swims with the 

 greatest facility ; in fact it is, if anything, rather more 

 at home in the water than upon land. The teeth of 

 this animal are well formed for the purposes for which 

 they are intended. There are twelve molar teeth, of 

 which the grinding surfaces are flattened; the inside 

 rim or edge of the upper row being marked by one 

 enamelled fold, and the outside edge by three folds. 

 In the lower row this arrangement is reversed. 



"The incisor teeth are extraordinarily strong, and 

 are shaped like chisels. With these they are enabled to 

 cut down trees of considerable size, of which they con- 

 struct dams across streams, with the view of forming 

 lakes, where the depth of the water would otherwise 

 be insufficient to afford security to the animals in their 

 huts. I , cannot do better than quote from that ex- 

 cellent and observant traveller Herne a description of 

 the mode of building practised by the beaver: 



" ' The situation chosen is various where the beavers 

 are numerous. They tenant lakes, rivers, and creeks, 

 especially the two latter for the sake of the current, of 

 which they avail themselves for the transportation of 

 materials. They also choose such parts as have a depth 

 of water beyond the freezing power to congeal at the 

 bottom. In small rivers or creeks from which the 



