THE EUROPEAN BEAVER. 705 



ground. This observer was able to study them for six years. They 

 were very timid, and scarcely ever left their retreat until nightfall. At 

 the approach of winter, Exinger had the willow and poplar trees cut 

 down, and laid them on the bank of the pond, the trunks in the water. 

 In the hrst cold days the Beavers dragged these trees to the bottom of 

 the pond, and ranged them side by side, weaving them in such a manner 

 as to form a solid and resisting mass. When the winter was prolonged, 

 Exinger broke the ice and introduced some fresh trunks of trees, so as to 

 furnish an additional supply of provisions for the prisoners. 



Dr. Sace, in alluding to this example, remarks that there is here an 

 excellent means of utilizing the immense marshes of the East and North 

 of Europe, in favoring the settlement and multiplication of Beavers. In 

 America the Beaver, in settled districts, is looked on as a nuisance, by 

 backing the water till it overflowed arable land. 



In 1868 some American Beavers were sent to the Jardin des Plantes 

 in Paris. They were placed in a large wooden box, with a door opening 

 upon a pond. They at once set to work to improve their home, and 

 protect themselves from the weather. For this purpose they turned up 

 the turf of their little yard and carried it on to the roof of their hut. In 

 a word, they executed a special work which was not in accordance with 

 their habits. They took great pains to keep the floor of their house 

 scrupulously clean. 



A Beaver was brought to England in the year 1825, very young, very 

 small, and very woolly. The building instinct showed itself early. Be- 

 fore it had been a week in its new quarters, as soon as it was let out of 

 its cage, and materials placed in its way, it went to work. It had soon 

 learned to know its name, and when called by it — " Binny " — it answered 

 with a low plaintive cry, and came to its owner. Its strength, when it 

 was half grown, was great. It would drag along a large sweeping- 

 brush, or a warming-pan, grasping the handle with its teeth, so that it 

 came over its shoulders, and advancing with the load in an oblique 

 direction till it arrived at the point where it wished to place it. 



The long and large materials were always taken first, and two of the 

 longest were generally laid crosswise, with one of the ends of each touch- 

 ing the wall, and the other ends projecting out into the room. The area 

 formed by the crossed brushes and the wall he would fill up with hand- 

 brushes, rush-baskets, books, boots, sticks, clothes, dried turf, or any- 

 thing portable. As the work grew high, he supported himself on his 

 89 



