( i6i ) 



middle of thofe fmall lakes formed by the dykes i 

 fometimes on the bank of a river, 'or at the extre- 

 mity of fome point advancing into the water. Their 

 figure is round or oval, and their roofs are arched 

 like the bottom of a bafket. Their partitions are 

 two feet thick, the materials of them being the 

 fame, though iefs fubftantial, than thofe in the caufe- 

 ways ; and all is fo well plaiftered with clay in the 

 infide, that not the (mailed breath of air can enter. 

 Two thirds of the edifice (lands above water, and 

 in this part each beaver has his place affigned him, 

 which he takes care to floor with leaves or fmall 

 branches of pine-trees. There is never any ordure 

 to be feen here, and to this end, befides the com- 

 mon gate of the cabin and, another ilTue by which 

 thefe animals go out to bathe, there are feverat 

 openings by which they difcharge their excrements 

 into the water. The common cabins lodge eight 

 or ten beavers, and fome have been known to con- 

 tain thirty, but this is rarely feen. All of them 

 are near enough to have an eafy communication 

 with each other. 



The winter never furprizes the beavers. All the 

 works I have been mentioning are finiflied by the 

 end of September, when every one lays in his win- 

 ter-ftock of provifions. W hilil their bufinefs leads 

 them abroad into the country or woods, they live 

 upon the fruit, bark, and leaves of trees they fifh 

 alfojbr crawfifh and fome other kinds ; every thing- 

 is then at the bed. But when the bufinefs is to lay 

 in a ftore, fufficient to laft them, whilft the earth 

 is hid under the fnow, they put up with wood of a 

 foft texture, fuch as poplars, afpens, and other fuch 

 like trees. Thefe they lay up in piles, and difpofe 

 in fuch wife, as to be -always able to come at the 

 pieces which have been foftened in the water. It has 



L been 



