410 THE COMMON BEAYfeR. 



stantly left the place, and went out on tlie banks of 

 the pond in different directions. Those nearest to 

 us wore between our station and the dam, and there- 

 fore we could observe their operations very plainly. 

 Some of them formed a substance resembling a kind 

 of mortar ; others carried this on their tails, which 

 served as sledges for the purpose. 1 observed that 

 thcv put themselves two and two, and tliat each of 

 a couple loaded his fellow. They trailed the mor- 

 tar, which was pretty stiff, quite to the dam, where 

 others were stationed to take it ; these put it into 

 the gutter, and rammed it down with blows of their 

 tails. 



^' The noise of the water soon ceased, and the 

 breach was completely repaired. One of the Beavers 

 then struck two blows with his tail ; and instantly 

 they all took to the water without any noise, and 

 ilisappeared." 



M. Du Pratz and his companions afterwards re- 

 tired to their hut to rest, and did not again disturb 

 these industrious animals till the next day. In the 

 morning, however, they went togetlier to the dam, 

 to see its construction ; for which purpose it was ne- 

 cessary that they should cut part of it down. The 

 depression of the water in consequence of this, to- 

 gether with the noise they made, roused the Bea- 

 vers again. The animals seemed much disturbed by 

 these exertions ; and one of them in particular was ob- 

 serv-d several times to come pretty near the labourers, 

 as if to examine what passed. — As M. Du Pratz ap- 

 prehended that they might ma into the woods^ if 



