BEAVER. 
build themselves 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 
on, or close adjoining to, an old one - r making 
the two tops into one, and cutting a communica- 
tion between the lodgings. Hence, I presume, 
arose the idea of their having several apart- 
ments. When the pond is not deep enough 
for them, they will throw a dam across the 
mouth of the brook, by which it discharges it's 
water, to raise it to a sufficient height; making 
use of sticks, stones, mud, and sand, for this 
purpose. Some of these I have seen of great 
length, and strength; insomuch that I have 
walked over them with the greatest safety : 
though not quite dryshod, if they w 7 ere new; 
as the water always sheds over them,, being of 
an exact level from end to end. But if, not- 
withstanding the stint, they cannot raise the 
water to a proper depth near the bank, they 
build their house in a pond, at a few yards dis- 
tance from the shore ; beginning at the bottom^ 
and hollowing 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 
