330 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



fitted together as to prevent the passage of the water between them. To meet 

 this difficulty, he plasters the side of the wall exposed to the current with 

 a coating of clay some 2 or 3 inches in thickness; and this clay, as he has 

 to travel through the water with it, he carries not in his arms, as in the 

 construction of the house, but on his head, supported by his arms. There 

 is no doubt that the side of the wall exposed to the current is thus clayed, 

 although I cannot well understand how it could withstand the action of 

 the water for any length of time. If he bridged the stream in this way 

 and clayed his bridge, it is clear that he would have always a large quan- 

 tity of water flowing over the top, which would impede his operations ; 

 and, to obviate this difficulty, he leaves an opening at either end for the 

 passage of the water, to be shut up afterwards. Having finished the wall, 

 the next thing to be done is to collect his winter's supply of food. This 

 consists of the bark of the ash, the bark and leaves of a certain kind of 

 poplar, the bark and leaves of some kind of willows, and the fruit of the 

 alder. A large poplar tree of about a foot in diameter, two beavers can 

 cut down in half an hour's time. It is afterwards cut into lengths of 

 about 5 feet ; and when he has got enough, he makes a road to the stream 

 from 3 to 6 feet wide, by cutting down trees or shrubs which may be in 

 his way. If the road be inclined towards the stream, he rolls the wood 

 down before him; but if it be level, or nearly so, he takes hold of the 

 wood by his teeth, and carries it forward, In the water he always trans- 

 ports wood or branches from one spot to another in a similar manner. 

 His wood will, of course, float in the water, and, if left to float, would 

 soon become embedded in the ice, which in ordinary winters, in this cli- 

 mate, is about 5 feet in thickness ; lie therefore takes it to the bottom of 

 the dam, which has a depth of water of from 10 to 12 feet, and either 

 fastens it on end in the mud, or covers it with stones, to prevent its rising, 

 and it will thus at all times be available for his purpose. He is now 

 nearly ready for the long winter. There is, however, something more to 

 be done. I have mentioned that he digs a subterranean passage from his 

 house to his dam ; on each side of this, and in some instances widely 

 apart, he makes holes about 5 or 6 feet in the bank, generally communi- 

 cating in the interior with one another, and with the main entrance to 

 the lodge. In one of these he takes his food, for he seldom or never eats 

 where he sleeps. 



The female has generally from three to six young at one time ; the 

 period of gestation is four months ; and the young are produced, or first 

 see the light, about the middle of May, and in the following August 

 assist in building the lodge. The young and old work together. When 

 about a year old, they start in pairs to form new settlements, provided, 

 like the best of colonists for a new country, with nothing else but good 

 strong limbs and a fine set of teeth. If there be an odd-fellow, he goes on 

 his travels alone, and forms a small bachelor establishment for himself for 

 the winter, unless, indeed, he meets a friend with kindred sentiments by 

 the way. Sometimes two of the year-olds remain in the old house for 

 another year, in which case the family in the following May is a large 

 one, never, however, numbering more than twelve individuals. The 

 usual number found in a lodge is from four to eight. They never build 

 their lodges close together — they are generally from a quarter to half a 

 mile apart. This no doubt arises from the circumstances that they cannot 

 well dam the rivers or streams, and find a sufficiency of food, at shorter 

 distances. The beaver remains shut up for the whole winter; during the 

 day always asleep, and during the night taking his bath and his meals. In 

 spring, however, he sometimes makes a hole in the ice to have a look at 

 the country around him. I do not know how he manages to do without 

 air; so far as I could discover, there are no air-holes about his premises. 



