S34 



UNITED STATES. 



house and do a little work upon it, young furriers, 

 are frequently deceived thereby, supposing those 

 houses to be inhabited. Although they will some- 

 times continue in the same pond for three or four 

 years or more, yet they will frequently build them- 

 selves a new house every year ; at other times they 

 will repair an old one, and live in that ; and they 

 often build a new house upon, or close adjoining to 

 an old one, making the two tops into one, and cut a 

 commimication between the lodgings: hence arose 

 the idea of their having several apartments. WheB 

 the pond is not deep enough for them, they will throw 

 a dam across the mouth of the brook, by which it 

 discharges its water, to raise it to a sufficient height; 

 making use of sticks, stones, mud, and sand, for 

 this purpose. Some of these Mr. Cartwright has 

 seen of great length and strength, insomuch that 

 he has walked over them with the greatest safety. 

 But if, notwithstanding the stint, they cannot raise 

 the water to a proper depth, near the bank, they 

 build their house in the pond, at a few yards distance 

 from the shore, beginning at the bottom and hollow^ 

 ing it out as they go on, for they must have about 

 three feet depth over the end of the angle, or the 

 water would freeze in it, and they could go neither 

 in nor out. If there be an island in the pond, they 

 generally make their house on that, being the safest 

 place ; and on the south shore, for the advantage of 

 the sun. They have no opening from their house 

 on the land side, and for these reasons; because the 

 frosty air would enter at that hole and freeze up the 

 water in the angle, whereby they would be cut off 

 from their magazine : the wolves likewise and other 



