116 WONDERS OF ORGANIC LIFE. 



part of the vault itself. Near the entrance, and 

 also deep under water, is laid up their winter 

 store, a mass of the branches of willows and 

 other trees, on the bark of which they feed. 

 These they stack up, sinking each layer by 

 means of mud and stones, and often accumulate 

 more than a cartload of materials. Within 

 each house is a dry portion of flooring above 

 the level of the water ; on this the animal 

 rests and enjoys its food, brought in as wanted 

 from the submerged magazine. Here, then, we 

 have an animal which forms for itself a solid 

 winter habitation, which lays up a store of food 

 in abundance, which retreats to its house on 

 the approach of cold season, and there resides, 

 patiently awaiting the return of spring, and 

 secure from every foe excepting man. Thus 

 the beaver may be said to hybernate, although 

 it continues active, without sinking at any time 

 into lethargy. Nor is it so much a prisoner as 

 might be at first supposed, for besides its house, 

 it makes burrows or excavations in the bank of 

 the river, the entrance being deep under water, 

 below the freezing line, and the passage inclining 

 upwards, until it terminates in a dry cell or 

 chamber. This is a place of refuge. Where 

 beavers are scattered, and lead a solitary life, 

 as occurs sometimes in America, where colonies 

 of them are almost entirely exterminated by the 

 hunter, the animals do not attempt to build 

 houses or dams, but permanently reside in such 

 burrows. It is thus that the scattered beavers 

 along the Rhone exist, living singly or in pairs. 



