CASTOR FIBER. 



become so firm, from the consolidation of all the materials, 

 as to require great exertion and the use of the ice-chisel or 

 other iron instruments to be broken open. The laborious 

 nature of such an undertaking may easily be conceived, when 

 it is known that the tops of these habitations are generally 

 from four to six feet thick at the apex of the cone. The 

 Northern Indians believe that the beavers always thicken the 

 northern walls of their dwellings much more than the others, 

 in order more effectually to resist the cold. Consequently, 

 these Indians always break into the huts from the south side. 



In situations where the beaver is frequently disturbed and 

 pursued, all its singular habits are relinquished, and its mode 

 of living changed to suit the nature of circumstances ; and 

 this occurs even in different parts of the same rivers. Instead 

 of building dams and houses, its only residence is then in 

 the banks of the stream, where it is now forced to make a 

 more extensive excavation, and be content to adopt the man- 

 ners of a muskrat. More sagacity is displayed by the beaver 

 in thus accommodating itself to circumstances, than in any 

 other action it performs. Such is the caution which it ex- 

 ercises to guard against detection, that were it not for the 

 removal of small trees, the stumps of which indicate the sort 

 of animal by which they have been cut down, the presence 

 of the beaver would not be suspected in the vicinity. All 

 excursions for the sake of procuring food are made late at 

 night, and if it pass from one hole to another during the day- 

 time, it swims so far under water as not to excite the least 

 suspicion of the presence of such a voyager. On many 

 parts of the Mississippi and Missouri, where the beaver for- 

 merly built their dwellings, no such works are at present to 

 be found, although beavers are still to be trapped in those 

 localities. The same circumstances have been remarked of 

 the European beaver, which has been thought to belong to 

 another species, because it does not build. 



The beaver swims to considerable distance under water, 

 but cannot remain for a long time without coming to the 

 surface for air. They are therefore caught with greater ease, 

 as they must either take refuge in the banks, or seek their 

 huts again for the sake of getting breath. When disturbed, 

 they usually fly from their huts to these banks, which, although 

 not so exposed to observation as their dwellings, are yet dis- 

 covered with sufficient ease, and allow the occupant to be 



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