CASTOROLOGIA. 69 



trees completelj^ cut through by the beaver, yet so interlocked 

 in the branches of neighboring trees, as to preclude the possibility 

 of their falling. Cases have even been observed where the beaver, 

 not undaunted by a first failure to secure the tender branches 

 and young twigs, has cut the tree through a second time, only to 

 experience another failure. Apart from the audacity of so small 

 an animal attempting to fell trees having a circumference of from 

 thirty to fifty inches or more, and towering in the forests, even 

 to a hundred feet in height, there is less that is marvelous in 

 this than in any of his other works. Mr. A. D. Bartlett, the careful 

 guardian of the many interesting occupants of the Zoological Gar- 

 dens, Regent's Park, I^ondon, England, whose residence is next to 

 the beaver's enclosure, has recorded with the utmost exactness the 

 methods of tree-felling, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society 

 of lyondon, November, 1862, and his observations are so invaluable 

 to a just appreciation of the skill exercised in this, the first and sim- 

 plest performance of the beaver, that it might be well to give his 

 remarks at length. He says : — 



" 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 the 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 Satur- 

 day last. The beaver visited the spot soon afterwards, and walking 

 round this large limb, which measured 30 inches circumference, 

 commenced 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 labored 

 hard, and appeared to exert his whole strength, leaving o£F for a 

 few minutes 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 three feet from the base of the tree. 



