THE BEAVER. 8? 



Assembling the colony Repairs. 



clearly perceived that he examined it. He then 

 with all his force, gave four distinct blows with 

 his tail; when immediately the whole colony 

 threw themselves into the water, and arrived 

 upon the dam. When they were all assembled, 

 one of them appeared to issue some kind of or- 

 ders ; for they all instantly left the place, and 

 went out on the banks of the pond in different 

 directions. Those nearest to us were between 

 our station and the dam, and therefore we could 

 plainly observe their operations. Some of them 

 formed a substance resembling a kind of mortar ; 

 others carried this on their tails, which served as 

 sledges for the purpose. I observed that they 

 put themselves two and two, and that each of a 

 couple loaded his fellow. They trailed the mor- 

 tar, which was pretty stiff, quite to the dam, 

 where others were stationed to receive it ; these 

 put it into the gutter, and rammed it down with 

 blows of their tails. 



" The noise of the water soon ceased, and the 

 breach was completely repaired. One of the 

 beavers then struck two blows with his tail; and 

 instantly they all took to the water without any 

 noise, and disappeared." 



Our author and his companions afterwards re- 

 tired to rest. In the morning, however, they 

 went to the dam, to see its construction; for 

 which purpose it was necessary that they should 

 cut part of it down. The depression of the 

 water in consequence of this, together with the 

 6 



