360 THE BEAVER. 



skin, which allows of their separation to a considerable extent, 

 and forms a broad and palmated expansion, similar in form 

 and use to the webbed feet of swimming birds $ the nails are 

 thick and strong -, that of the second toe of the hind-feet 

 consists of two portions, an upper one corresponding with the 

 other toes, and an under placed obliquely and having a sharp 

 cutting edge directed downwards -, the tail which is nearly half 

 as long as the body, is of a broad oval shape, flattened both 

 above and beneath, and furnished at its thickened root alone 

 with hair similar to that on the body, but covered throughout 

 the greater part of its length with a peculiar incrustation, 

 assuming the form of regular scales very like those of fishes. 

 " Their habitations," says Mr. Bennett, in his admirable account 

 of this animal, " are built either immediately beneath the bank, 

 or, if the pool be shallow, at some little distance from it. They 

 begin by hollowing out the bottom, throwing up the mud and 

 stones around it, and intermingling them with such sticks as 

 they can procure. The walls having been thus raised suffi- 

 ciently high, the house is covered in with a dome- shaped roof, 

 generally emerging about four feet, but sometimes as much 

 as six or seven, from the water. The entrance is made beneath 

 a projection which advances several feet into the stream with 

 a regular descent, terminating at least three feet below the 

 surface to guard against its being frozen up. This is called 

 by the hunters the angle, and a single dwelling is sometimes 

 furnished with two or more. In all their operations, there 

 appears to be no other concert or combination among the 

 beavers than that which results from a common instinct 

 impelling them to the performance of a common task. There 

 is, therefore, no truth in the assertion that these animals are 

 superintended in their labours by an overseer ; and equally 

 untrue are the frequent statements that they use their tails 

 as sledges for the conveyance of their materials, or as trowels 

 to spread the plaster with which, according to some accounts, 

 the work is overlaid. The structure of the tail is quite unfitted 

 for such operations, and the only organs employed in mixing 



