122 The Beaver. 



The geographical range of the beaver appears to have been at 

 one time co-extensive with the whole of North America, from the 

 Arctic Ocean south, to the Tropic of Cancer, or Gulf of Mexico. 

 The progress of civilization has, however, exterminated the animal 

 in nearly all of that portion of the continent which constitutes the 

 United States and the settled portions of Canada. North of the 

 Ottawa, and in the head waters of the streams which flow into the 

 St. Lawrence below Montreal, it is still abundant. An exploring 

 party in crossing the wild country between Matchedash Bay at 

 the southern extremity of the Georgian Bay, to the county of 

 Renfrew in 1863, saw great numbers of their works in the nu- 

 merous streams and lakes of that region. They are therefore still 

 quite common between Lake Huron and the Ottawa. 



The American beaver cannot be distinguished from that of 

 Europe. The fur of the latter is a little lighter in colour than 

 that of this continent. It was once an inhabitant of the British 

 Islands, where it has been found associated with the remains of 

 the extinct mammoth. There is also an extinct beaver, whose 

 remains have been discovered in Europe and another in America, 

 which appear to have been the size of a sheep. The following is 

 the best account we have seen of the habits of this species. 



" Beavers prefer small clear-water rivers and creeks, and likewise 

 resort to large springs. They, however, at times, frequent great 

 rivers and lakes. The trappers believe that they can have notice 

 of the approach of winter weather, and of its probable severity, by 

 observing the preparations made by the Beavers to meet its rigours ; 

 as these animals always cut their wood in good season, and if this 

 be done early, winter is at hand. 



The Beaver dams, where the animal is at all abundant, are built 

 across the streams to their very head waters. Usually these dams 

 are formed of mud, mosses, email stones, and branches of trees cut 

 about three feet in length and from seven to twelve inches round. 

 The bark of the trees in all cases being taken oflffor winter provend- 

 er, before the sticks are carried away to make up the dam. The lar- 

 gest tree cut by the Beaver, seen by Prevost, measured eighteen 

 inches in diameter ; but so large a trunk is very rarely cut down 

 by this animal. In the instance just mentioned, the branches only 

 were used, the trunk not having been appropriated to the repairs 

 of the dam or aught else by the Beavers. 



In constructing the dams, the sticks, mud and moss are matted 

 and interlaced together in the firmest and most compact manner ; 



