1862.] mr. a. d. bartlett on the habits of the beaver. 267 



6. Notes on the Beaver in the Zoological Gardens. 

 By a. D. Bartlett. 



During one of the heavy storms of wind and rain that prevailed 

 during the last month a large willow-tree was partly blown down. 

 The limbs and branches of this fallen tree were given to many of 

 the animals, and to them proved to be a very acceptable windfall. 

 To the Beaver, however, I wish to direct especial attention, as this ani- 

 mal has exhibited in a remarkable manner some of his natural habits 

 and intelligence. One of th'e largest limbs of the tree, upwards of 

 12 feet long, was firmly fixed in the ground, in the Beaver's enclo- 

 sure, in a nearly upright position, at about twelve o'clock on Saturday 

 last. The Beaver visited the spot soon afterwards, and walking 

 round this large limb, which measured 30 inches circumference, com- 

 menced to bite off the bark about 12 inches above the ground, and 

 afterwards to gnaw into the wood itself. The rapid progress was 

 (to all who witnessed it) most astonishing. The animal laboured hard, 

 and appeared to exert his whole strength, leaving off for a few mi- 

 nutes apparently to rest and look upwards, as if to consider which 

 way the tree was to fall. Now and then he left off and went into his 

 pond, which was about 3 feet from the base of the tree, as if to take 

 a refreshing bath. Again he came out with renewed energy, and 

 with his powerful teeth gouged away all round the trunk. This 

 process continued till about four o'clock, when suddenly he left off 

 and came hastily towards the iron fence, to the surprise of those 

 who were watching his movements. The cause of this interriiption 

 was soon explained ; he had heard in the distance the sound of the 

 wheelbarrow, which, as usual, is brought daily to his paddock, and 

 from which he was anxiously waiting to receive his supper. Not 

 wishing to disappoint the animal, but at the same time regretting 

 that he was thus unexpectedly stopped in his determination to bring 

 down this massive piece of timber, his usual allowance of carrots and 

 bread were given to him ; and from this time until half-past five he 

 was engaged in taking his meal and swimming about in his pond. 

 At half-past five, however, he returned to his tree, which by this time 

 was reduced in the centre to about 2 inches in diameter. To this 

 portion he applied his teeth with great earnestness, and in ten mi- 

 nutes afterwards it fell suddenly with great force upon the ground. 



It was an interesting sight to witness the adroit and skilful man- 

 ner in which the last bite or two were given on the side on which 

 the tree fell, and the nimble movement of the animal to the opposite 

 side at the moment, evidently to avoid being crushed beneath it. 

 Upon examining the end of the separated tree, it was found that 

 only one inch in diameter was uncut ; and it was of course due to 

 the nearly erect position in which the tree was put into the ground 

 that it stood balanced, as it were, upon this slender stem. After 

 carefully walking along its entire length as it lay on the ground, and 

 examining every part, he commenced to cut off about two feet of its 

 length, and by seven o'clock the next morning he had divided it into 

 three pieces : two of these he had removed into the pond, and one 

 was used in the under part of his house. 



