1956 The Zoologist— January, 1870. 



quite sufficient to prove the contran', — at least that such throwing of 

 trees is the exception and by no means the rule.* My first residence 

 in Newfoundland was on the banks of a good-sized lake, some ten 

 miles long by two miles wide. This lake is surrounded almost 

 entirely by woods, and is fed by several muddy streams — the favourite 

 resort of beavers, and here as well as in many other places (for 

 beavers were exceedingly plentiful) I had abundant opportunities for 

 studying their economy. I observed that they invariably selected a 

 randdy brook the banks of which were well studded with alder-bushes, 

 small birch and willow, the stems and small branches of which are 

 used in conjunction with roots of grass and plenty of mud, in forming 

 the dam, and also in building their house. The stems and branches 

 are usually cut into lengths of from two to four feet, the ends of which 

 are stuck firmly in the mud ; other branches and short sticks are then 

 allowed to drift down the stream to the 'stent,' and are then sunk to 

 the bottom by piling mud on them : this process is usually commenced 

 when the water is at its lowest, and is continued until the brook is 

 ' stenled ' sufficient for the economy of the beaver. The 'stent' is 

 somewhat horse-shoe shaped, with the bow or arch pointing down 

 stream, and so firmly is it constructed that it usually formed mj' 

 bridge across these muddy and consequently dangerous brooks for 

 wading. Often when tired and tolerably well laden with gun and 

 dead birds have I blundered through the thick alder-bushes, some- 

 times knee-deep in water in search of the welcome 'stent.' During 

 the spring and fall floods the beavers regulate the depth of water in 

 their houses, as in fact they do at all seasons, by the ' stent,' for 

 such indeed is its purpose, and so sensible are the animals of the 

 slightest variation in the stream that shortly after a breach is 

 made, if otherwise undisturbed, one or more beavers venture from the 

 house to repair the damage, and often meet their deaths from the fatal 

 gun while doing so." 



Of the houses themselves Mr. Green tells us they " are formed of 

 water-logged sticks placed horizontally in the water. They have 

 always two or more entrances, and a small chamber with a little grass 

 for the beaver to lie on. The top of the house is constructed very 

 thick, to guard against attacks by animals. Mud and roots are used 

 to make the house solid ; but no mud is seen from the outside, as the 

 top is covered with loose sticks left there by the beaver after taking 



* Captain Hardy fully bears out this assertion: vide "Forest Life in Acadia," 

 pp. 172—174. 



