THE BEAVER. 
207 
'’^habitants, i-arely consisting of more than 
four old and six or eight young ones. When 
f^oilding their houses they place most of the 
''"ood cross-wise, and nearly horizontally, ob- 
®erving no other order than that of leaving a 
oavity in the middle. Branches which project 
'Oward are cut off with their teeth, and thrown 
^lUong the rest. The houses are not first 
^oilt of sticks and then plastered, but all the 
Materials, sticks, mud, and stones, if the latter 
Oan be procured, are mixed up together, and 
f^is composition is employed from the' foun- 
dation to the summit. The mud is obtained 
the banks or bottom of the stream or 
t'ond near the door of the hut ; the animal 
^-Iways carrying mud and stones by bolding 
ffiem between his fore-paw and his throat. 
work is performed entirely by night and 
)''ith great expedition. When straw or grass 
mixed with the mud used in building, it is 
accidental circumstance, owing to the na- 
