THE BEAVER. 



249 



The Beaver is essentially an aquatic mammal, never walking 

 when it can swim, and seldom appearing quite at its ease upon 

 dry land. It therefore makes its houses close to the water, and 

 communicating with it by means of subterranean passages, one 

 entrance of which passes into the house or Modge,' as it is 

 technically named, and the other into the water, so far below 

 the surface that it cannot be closed by ice. It is, therefore, 

 always possible for the Beaver to gain access to the provision 

 stores, and to return to its house, without being seen from the 

 land. 



The lodges are nearly circular in form, and much resemble 

 the well-known snow houses of the Esquimaux, being domed, 

 and about half as high as they are wide, the average height 

 being three feet and the diameter six or seven feet. These are 

 the interior dimensions, the exterior measurement being much 

 greater, on account of the great thickness of the walls, which 

 are continually strengthened with mud and branches, so that, 

 during the severe frosts, they are nearly as hard as solid stone. 

 Each lodge will accommodate several inhabitants, whose beds 

 are arranged round the walls. 



All these precautions are, however, useless against the prac- 

 tised skill of the trappers. Even in winter time the Beavers are 

 not safe. The hunters strike the ice smartly, and judge by the 

 sound whether they are near an aperture. As soon as they are 

 satisfied, they cut away the ice and stop up the opening, so 

 that if the Beavers should be alarmed, they cannot escape into 

 the water. They then proceed to the shore, and by repeated 

 soundings, trace the course of the Beavers' subterranean pas- 

 sage, which is sometimes eight or ten yards in length, and by 

 watching the various apertures are sure to catch the inhabitants. 

 This is not a favourite task with the hunters, and is never under- 

 taken as long as they can find any other employment, for the 

 work is very severe, the hardships are great, and the price which 

 they obtain for the skins is now very small. 



While they are thus engaged, they must be very careful not 

 to spill any blood, as if they do so, the rest of the Beavers take 

 alarm, retreat to the water, and cannot be captured. They also 



