( 493 ) 
THE BEAVER. 
i* all 
A o/J'^^'driipedi (he Beaver 'possesses the greatest 
• ’’tior, or instinctive sagacity in constructing its 
preparing, in concert with others of' its own 
vjiday'' ^ind of arched caverns or domes, supported by a 
l«a strong pillars, and lined or plastered internally 
; % A'^f''''sing degree of neatness and accuracy. 
'ehicax, or, as they are called, the associated 
BEAVERS, unite in society in tlie months of 
arriving in numbers from all parts, and soon 
v'Mii^i ’‘““P of t''’o or three hundred. If the waters 
ti)t their establishment are flat, and do not 
V their ordinary level, as in lakes, they dispense with 
but in rivers or brooks, where the waters 
iiNd ^ ’ *^hey constnici. a bank, and by tliis artifice form 
■''Miji? piece of water, which remains always at the 
■‘At The bank traverses the river, from one side 
pil(l like a sluice, and is often from eighty to 
C iong, by ten or twelve broad at the base. 
^oimals of so small a size, appears to be 
ity ’ 2nd supposes an incredible labour: but the 
wliich the work is constructed is still more 
V tfg ^ lhan its magnitude. The part of the river where 
VV; bank is generally shallow. If they find on 
a '' ® large tree which can be made to fall into the 
Vi Par?^ wbh cutting it down, to form the prln- 
work. This tree is often thicker than 
^ man ; but by gnawing at its foot with their 
V’'h>6 they accomplish their purpose in a very 
®^ways contriving that the tree should fall across 
Vfbltj, j .They next cut the branches from the tnink, 
Vf toi '® '®''el. These operations are performed by the 
tjbot ,^t*Hinity ; while some are employed in gnawing 
j tbe tree, others traverse the banks of the nver^ 
smaller trees, which they dress and cut to a 
t"Sth, to make stake.s of them, and first drag them 
I V’!) the margin of the river, and then by water to the 
building is carrying on. These piles tliey 
• aad interweave the branches with the larger 
