148 RODENT WATEE TRESPASSERS. 



As to trees, the Beavers proceed in a very ingenious 

 manner. They are invariably cut so that the head of 

 the tree falls away from the river. As soon as it is 

 down the Beavers precipitate themselves on it, cut 

 away the branches which are not needed, and drag it 

 into the river so that it can be floated down. They in- 

 variably fell trees above, and never below, their dams. 

 To drag a tree up the stream would be beyond the 

 power of any number of Beavers, but to guide it down 

 is a different business, and three or four of the animals 

 are quite enough to pilot a large tree to its destina- 

 tion, taking advantage of every eddy in the stream as 

 craftily as if they were experienced boatmen. 



The houses are built in two flats, the lower one 

 being nearly on a level with the water, and used as a 

 landing-stage, and the upper employed as a sleeping 

 apartment. It was at one time thought that the Beaver 

 was in the habit of filling its house with fresh branches 

 by way of a store of food. This, however, is not the 

 case, for, as Mr. Green very rightly observes, a single 

 day's food for a Beaver would more than fill the house. 

 Their stores are generally made at some distance from 

 the dam, and above it, and when the animal has 

 stripped the bark from the branch," which forms almost 

 its sole food, it throws the peeled branch into the 

 stream, and utilizes it either for its dam or house. 



It is evident that the Beaver, which spends so much 

 of its time in the water, must possess some kind of 

 clothing, whether of fur, scale, or feather, which will 

 protect its body. In point of fact, hair, scales, and 

 feathers are only modifications of the same develop- 

 ment of the skin. In common with many other water- 



