LITTLE BEASTS OF FIELD AND WOOD 



water, that has been in existence at least eight 

 years, and though partly destroyed from time to 

 time by trappers and freshets, has been regularly 

 remodelled each fall, and is still in good condi- 

 tion ; while two others near by among the willows 

 have been so interlaced by the fibrous roots of 

 these trees as to be practically indestructible. 



They have not changed in outward appearance 

 in the slightest degree for fifteen years or more ; 

 and I have not the shadow of a doubt that they 

 are fully twice as old as that, and I am unable to 

 see why they should not last indefinitely. They 

 are perfectly smooth and dome-shaped outside, 

 like the popularly accepted idea of a beaver 

 cabin ; and though once or twice the muskrats 

 have attempted to raise a second story, or a 

 lean-to at one side, it has always been washed 

 away sooner or later, leaving the cabin as it was 

 before. One of the cabins appears to be always 

 occupied ; but the other, being placed much 

 lower, is under water so much of the time that 



164 



