THE BEAVER. 



and firmly fet in their jaws, which are likewife very flrong. If they chance 

 to be met on fhore by a man, they will lit down on their bottom and cry 

 like a child. r f hefe folitary Beavers inhabit holes, which they burrow in the 

 banks of rivers, below the freezing point, and work their way upward to 

 the height of many feet, Hocking them with provisions for the winter ; but 

 the generality of Beavers live in affociated communities, confiiling of two or 

 three hundred; inhabiting houfes, which they raife to the height of eight 

 feet above the water. They build thefe houfes on piles, and form them 

 either round or oval, with arched tops, which give them the appearance 

 of a dome on the outflde, and within they refemble an oven. The 

 community generally build from ten to twenty-five of thefe houfes, the 

 conflruclion of which, together with the choice of a proper place, and the 

 fitting it to the intended purpofe, furnifh the moll linking inflance of 

 inftinclive fagacity, as it is impoffible thefe works could be accomplished 

 without the combined afiiilance of many individuals, who mult be mutually 

 acquainted with each others intentions, and know how to direct their aclions 

 fo as to promote the defired end. If they find a place fuitable to their 

 purpofe, which is generally a pond in the vicinity of afpen and birch trees, 

 they begin to ered their houfes in the month of Auguft. If they cannot 

 find a fpot naturally adapted to their operations, they make choice of a level 

 piece of ground, having a fmall rivulet running through it, in which they 

 conftrud a dam, which, flopping the courfe of the water, forms a pond, which 

 they can make as deep or as fpacious as they pleafe, by proportioning the 

 dam accordingly. Thefe dams are formed with prodigious ftrength, by 

 means of flakes driven into the ground, fome fay five or fix feet long ; thefe 

 are placed in rows, and pliant twigs are wattled between them, as hurdles 

 are made ; the interftices are then filled with clay, Hones, and fand, which 

 are well rammed down. They are fhaped with a Hope on the fide next 

 to the water, but are perpendicular on the other fide : they are ten or 

 twelve feet thick at the bafe, but gradually diminifh towards the top, which 

 is uf tially two or three feet thick. Some of thefe dams are a hundred feet 

 in length, and are exactly level from end to end. Mr. Cartwright fays, he 



