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her of inhabitants. They cut down branches 

 from three to ten feet in length. Those of the 

 largest dimensions are conveyed to their maga- 

 zines by a whole body of beavers; but the 

 smallest by one only : each of them, however, 

 takes a different way, and 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 family; 

 and according to the observation of some curious 

 naturalists, the usual stock of timber for the 

 accommodation often beavers, consists of about 

 thirty feet in a square surface, and ten in depth. 

 These logs are not thrown up in one continual 

 pile, but laid one across the other, with inter- 

 vals or small spaces between them, in order to 

 take out, with the greater facility, 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 



