266 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
of trees cut down by these animals are observed 
lying in various positions; although as most 
trees on the margin of a stream or river leap 
somewhat towards the water, or have their 
largest branches extended over it, many of 
those cut down by the beavers naturally fall 
in that direction. 
It is a curious fact, says our trapper, that 
among the beavers there are some that are 
lazy and will not work at all, either to assist — 
in building lodges or dams, or to cut down 
wood for their winter stock. The industrious 
ones beat these idle fellows, and drive them 
away; sometimes cutting off a part. of their 
tail, and otherwise injuring them. These 
“ Paresseux” are more easily caught in traps 
than the others, and the trapper rarely misses 
one of them. They only dig a hole from the 
water, running obliquely towards the surface 
of the ground twenty-five or thirty feet, from 
which they emerge when hungry to obtain 
food, returning to the same hole with the 
wood they procure, to eat the bark. 
They never form dams, and are sometimes 
to the number of five or seven together; all 
are males. It is not at all improbable that 
these unfortunate fellows have, as is the case 
with the males of many species of animals, 
Leen engaged in fighting with others of then 
