CUTTING DOWN TREES. 265 



of tlie body, using only the hind-feet to propel 

 themselves through the water. Before diving, 

 the beaver gives a smart slap with its tail on 

 the water, making a noise that may be heard 

 a considerable distance, but in swimming, the 

 tail is not seen to work, the animal being 

 entirely submerged except the nose and part 

 of the head ; it swims fast and well, but with 

 nothing like the speed of the otter. 



The beavers cut a broad ditch all around 

 their lodge, so deep that it cannot freeze to 

 the bottom, and into this ditch they make 

 the holes already spoken of, through which 

 they go in and out and bring their food. 

 The beds of these singular animals are separ- 

 ated slightly from each other, and are placed 

 around the wall or circumference of the in- 

 terior of the lodge ; they are formed merely 

 of a few grasses, or the tender bark of trees : 

 the space in the centre of the lodge being 

 left unoccupied. The beavers usually go to 

 the dam every evening to see if repairs are 

 needed. 



They rarely travel by land, unless their dams 

 have been carried away by the ice, and even 

 then they take the beds of the rivers or streams 

 for their roadway. In cutting down trees they 

 are not always so fortunate as to have them fall 

 into the water, or even towards it, as the trunks 

 23 



